Winter schedule

Red Bull
Schedule: Launch of the RB8 has been confirmed for February 6 at 1pm - the day before the keenly-anticipated first test of the winter at Jerez and thus the shortest-possible period during which their rivals can see what new magic Adrian Newey has sprinkled on his latest creation...
In a word: Official.

Ferrari
Schedule: The secret is out. Although not providing any definite dates, media chief Luca Colajanni has revealed: "The new Ferrari F1 car will be presented in early February, in time to take part in the first test session ahead of the season." Since then, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has revealed to Sky Sports News that launch day will be Friday February 3rd. With the team pledging to be aggressive in their new design, Jerez can't begin quickly enough.
In a word: Excited.

McLaren
Schedule: In contrast to last year, when the MP4-26 was only unveiled the day after the first winter test, the team have confirmed their plan is to launch the MP4-27 at their MTC HQ on February 1 and their new car will first be run by Jenson Button on day one of the Jerez test a week later. In addition, the team have provisionally committed to attending every day of every test, with driver duties equally split between Button and Lewis Hamilton.
In a word: Announced.

Mercedes
Schedule: In an interesting twist to the plans of the other leading marques, the team are planning to introduce their new car - the W03 - at the second winter test, to be held at Barcelona in late February. In a second intriguing twist to the established norm, it's believed that the team will be at Jerez for the first test, either using their 2011 charger or a hybrid version. Speculation is varied on whether a factor in the delay is a plan to replicate the innovative ride-height system that Lotus-Renault have reputedly developed.
In a word: Late.

Lotus-Renault
Schedule: Kimi Raikkonen took to the track in a two-year-old R30 chassis at Valencia on January 23 for the first of two days of running as the 2007 World Champion looks to get back in the groove ahead of his return. Their new car will actually be 'launched' on the team's website on February 5, two days before it is scheduled to debut at Jerez.
In a word: Expected.

Force India
Schedule: Confirmed for February 3, with a 9am start at Silverstone. The sharp-eyed among you will spot two obvious points of comment: 1) the ridiculously early time of day, 2) that the date clashes with the Ferrari launch of the same day. We are, in short, confused as to the wisdom of this idea.
In a word: Puzzle.

Sauber
Schedule: In their Christmas greeting, the team dropped in the news that their "team's new high-speed sled (aka the Sauber C31-Ferrari) is due to be unwrapped in Jerez on 6th February". Nothing else is known as yet but, unless the team have a special affiinity with the Spanish city, it's reasonable to assume that the car will be on track for the first test of the winter a day later.
In a word: Festive.

Toro Rosso
Schedule: The Faenza-based outfit, who are sure to give newcomers Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo as much running as possible during pre-season, have announced that their new chassis, the STR7, will be launched at Jerez on Monday, February 6 - the day before testing commences.
In a word: Sure.

Williams
Schedule: Technical Director Mike Coughlan disclosed that the team's new car, FW34, is due to be cleared in early February "and we'll be ready to go to the first test". Now Williams have announced that it will be launched on the morning of the first day's running at Jerez.
In a word: Ready.

Caterham
Schedule: The newly-named team had been keeping a low profile during recent weeks, but have now said that their new chassis, the CT01, will grace the cover of F1 Racing magazine on January 26, meaning it will, in effect, be breaking cover earlier than its rivals.
In a word: First.

HRT
Schedule: Under review. Somewhat worryingly, the team have already raised the possibility that they will miss the entirety of pre-season testing due to complications arising from their relocation to Spain and the need for teams to pass the FIA's crash test before testing rather than, as in previous years, before the first race of the season.
In a word: Unsure.

Marussia
Schedule: The new MR01 will not now debut until the final pre-season test in Barcelona at the start of March. The team will skip the first test at Jerez altogether and will run last year's MVR-02 in the second, also at Barcelona.
In a word: Delayed.

Last updated: January 31