Mercedes could be set to surprise the entire F1 world by setting the pace in 2012.

That is the claim of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, having found that the W03 had the strongest ‘long run’ pace during recent pre-season tests.

The major daily Bild agrees, crowning the Ross Brawn-led team the “Bluff champion!” of the winter.

“The analysis of recent testing in Barcelona shows that Mercedes are even faster than Red Bull,” the report exclaimed.

Sauber ranked second in the Auto Motor und Sport analysis of long runs, although last year the Swiss team looked similarly fast in testing.

Red Bull, McLaren and Lotus come next, followed by the struggling Ferrari, Racing In Focus reported.