JEREZ (REUTERS)- Lewis Hamilton crashed his Mercedes nose-first into a tyre wall after the 2008 world champion suffered brake problems on his first day of testing with the Formula One team on Wednesday.

The Briton's car careered straight across the gravel runoff at the Jerez circuit's turn six, the notorious Dry Sack corner where Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve collided in the 1997 title-deciding European Grand Prix.

The car's wheel tracks indicated Hamilton, who stepped out unhurt after staying in the car for a few minutes, had been a mere passenger with no response from the steering as it went off the track.

"Lewis suffered a loss of rear brake pressure, the front brakes enabled him to slow the car but he couldn't avoid the barrier," said Mercedes.