FORMULA 1 - 2015

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ONLY MERCEDES AND WILLIAMS TO TEST 2015 ENGINE AT JEREZ

Nine weeks after the 2014 world championship season finale, the Formula 1 world is now counting down the days before the resumption of track action.

The winter lull will soon be replaced by a spate of car unveilings and the sound of F1 2015, as the first official test of the new season begins at Jerez on Sunday.

Williams and Force India have already revealed their new car designs, and now Lotus has shown images of its newly Mercedes-powered E23, sporting a more conventional front solution after the double-pronged nose of its uncompetitive predecessor.

“Improvements within our design, aero and simulation departments have all contributed to the development of a car which is a huge step forward,” said team CEO Matthew Carter.

Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims that Lotus will have to make do with the 2014 version of Mercedes’ turbo V6 engine for the Jerez test.

The publication said another Mercedes customer, Force India, will follow the same strategy, with only the works team and its most competitive customer Williams to run the German marque’s 2015 specification at the first test.

Ferrari, meanwhile, finally announced on Monday the official name of its 2015 car, which until now was only referred to by its internal project code, 666.

The new red single seater, to be revealed on Friday, will be called SF15-T.

Insider Leo Turrini wrote on his Quotidiano blog that the nose of the 2015 car is “very different” to that of its disappointing predecessor, the F14-T.

And McLaren said its works Honda-powered 2015 car was fired up for the first time on Monday, before Fernando Alonso drives it at Jerez on Sunday.

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TEAM HAAS CONFIRM PURCHASE OF MARUSSIA FACTORY

If the former Marussia team survives the winter, it will have to house itself elsewhere, because Team Haas, has confirmed reports it has bought the Marussia facility in Banbury from the ailing team’s administrators.

F1’s new American entrant for 2016, Haas denied, however, that it is the mystery investor that could revive the backmarker, which is now called Manor following the departure from the scene of Russian owner Andrey Cheglakov.

Italy’s Omnicorse reports that the prospective buyer could be a consortium from India, possibly backed by Ferrari who are owed close to $20 million by Marussia.

Having sold Banbury, however, an eleventh-hour rescue would leave Manor needing a new headquarters.

Omnicorse claims the team could simply revert to Dinnington, South Yorkshire, where at the start of the F1 project the team then known as Virgin was based.

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RB11 not quite complete confirms Horner as test looms

Red Bull's RB11 will only just be ready for the first pre-season test in Jerez on Sunday according to team principal Christian Horner.

During a media event in Milton Keynes on Tuesday, the Briton confirmed parts of the car were still outstanding as the team opted to work to a later than usual deadline in order to maximise development time.

"Not yet," he replied when asked if the RB11 was ready for Jerez. "The car is flat out in build at the moment.

"It's probably the shortest production and assembly [time] in our previous ten seasons.

"It is unbelievable what the factory have turned around so far. But still there is plenty to do before Sunday."

Compared to last year, the team expects a much smoother debut after ironing out many of the problems over the winter.

"After the first test last year, hopefully this one cannot be any worse than that," he added. "I think we managed about four laps over four days and the car would either stop on track or set on fire.

"It has been a far more positive winter compared to last year. We know where the benchmark is and what we need to achieve.

"I think this is the most impressive winter we have had as a team, that is in terms of everything coming together - in terms of the car being produced in the shortest time ever, and the design hitting all their deadlines and targets."

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This year's Ferrari is much better looking - Allison

The new Ferrari, or SF15-T as it has been christened, is "much better looking" than its predecessor according to technical director James Allison.

The car is set to be launched on January 30th ahead of pre-season testing which kicks off in Jerez just two days later.

Allison insists the new nose regulations weren't an issue for Ferrari's design team - despite Williams calling them a headache - and the result is a better looking car.

"We've had to change the way we package the front end of the car to some extent, the way the front-wing works and the nose and the turning veins," Allison explained.

"But it's not so big a deal for us, it's something we adopted early on in the year and just moved on from there.

"This year's car is certainly a lot better looking than last year's car - prettier round the front, tighter round the back and that makes for a nicer car."

The team has focussed on improvements all round, including on the engine which lagged behind Mercedes and Renault last season.

"The guidelines are pretty simple; last year we were too slow, not good enough, so fundamentally to make a competitive car. As always the challenge for a competitive car is lots of downforce, lots of horsepower, good drive-ability, so we've been working on all three of those things."

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Daniel Ricciardo: Red Bull driver wants 'a proper title fight' in 2015

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo hopes he can challenge Mercedes and have a "proper title fight" in 2015.

The 25-year-old won three races in 2014 - the only non-Mercedes driver to win - and was third in the championship, behind Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

"When you look back it was pretty awesome how we won three when they were so dominant," said the Australian.

"The target is to win more races and hopefully get more results in a title fight - a proper one."

Ricciardo will drive the new Red Bull on the first two days of the first pre-season test in Jerez, Spain from 1-4 February, in only his second season with the team.

He hoped the significant power advantage Mercedes' engine had in 2014 will mean they cannot make as much progress in 2015.

"Everyone is going to improve, that's a fact," said Ricciardo. "But you'd like to think that Mercedes' room for improvement is smaller than everyone else's.

"I hope they don't have another 50% on top of what they've got and I think us and Ferrari can make up that gap."

Renault are said by insiders to have improved their engine by about 50bhp over the winter.

This would leave them still a little short of the power output of last year's Mercedes engine but the decision to allow all manufacturers to do limited in-season engine development gives them the opportunity to close further.

Ricciardo added: "If we can halve the performance gap, it's a good start and then we can apply pressure as the season goes on.

"Everyone is trying to improve, and I'm aware of the need to keep improving. I expect to be quick."

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo showed off his sledging skills at a 'meet the drivers' event on Tuesday

On the other leading teams, Ricciardo said: "I expect Williams to be strong. The big question mark is McLaren-Honda. I'm very excited to see how they go."

Honda are returning to F1 after a six-year absence as engine partner to McLaren, with an all-star driver line-up of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.

"They have the potential to do well," Ricciardo said. "Everyone will be watching to see what kind of step they can do.

"With Ferrari, there is no real sign they can gain a second a lap. McLaren, they could gain a second if it all gels with Honda."

Red Bull will be without four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel following his move to Ferrari, but team boss Christian Horner said he believed his replacement, the Russian Daniil Kvyat, would prove to be a star.

"In Kvyat we've got a really fast, determined, intelligent driver," Horner said.

"Sure, he's a little bit rough around the edges. He's only done 19 grands prix so far, but his commitment, speed and application are excellent.

"There will be the odd mistake but that's natural with a young driver. He can be surprise of this year in the same way that Daniel was last year. He has the attributes to do some really fantastic things."

Horner admitted Mercedes "start as favourites" but said his team would "make significant inroads hopefully", adding that "Renault are taking an aggressive development approach".

Mercedes are believed to have added at least 50bhp to their own engine, but the truth will not emerge until the first race weekend of the season in Melbourne, Australia on 13-15 March.

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KVYAT READY TO BE SURPRISE OF THE SEASON

Daniil Kvyat can be as much of a revelation at Red Bull this season as Australian Daniel Ricciardo was last year, according to team boss Christian Horner.

Ricciardo took his first three grands prix wins in 2014, his first season at the then-champions after graduating from sister team Toro Rosso, and eclipsed team mate and four times champion Sebastian Vettel along the way.

Kvyat, 20, has also now moved up from Toro Rosso following Vettel’s departure to Ferrari with Ricciardo becoming the man to beat.

“I think in Kvyat we’ve got a really fast, determined, intelligent driver,” Horner told reporters at a Red Bull event on Tuesday.

“Sure, he’s a little bit rough around the edges. He’s only done 19 grands prix so far, but his commitment, speed and application are excellent.

“There will be the odd mistake here or there but that’s natural with a young driver on the trajectory he’s on. I really think he can be surprise of this year in the same way that Daniel was last year.

“He has all the right attributes to do some really fantastic things this year.”

If Kvyat does emulate Ricciardo, he will become the first Russian to win a grand prix at a time when the sport is growing in popularity there with a race in the Black Sea resort of Sochi making its debut last year.

The Ufa-born youngster, who now lives in Switzerland after a spell in Rome, said he was not thinking about how that might feel and expected a ‘healthy competition’ with his new team mate.

“I will keep doing what I was doing in the past, more or less,” he told reporters after showing off his ski skills at an event on an indoor slope near the Red Bull factory.

“It’s not something that weighs on my mind. I think it’s something that pushes me forward instead,” he said of his chance to make history by winning. “It would be great, we’ll see.”

The season starts in Australia on March 15, with the first pre-season test starting at the Jerez track in southern Spain on Sunday.

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FORCE INDIA NOT READY HAVE TO SKIP JEREZ TEST

Force India has announced it will sit out the first winter test of the 2015 Formula 1 season, which gets underway at Jerez in southern Spain on 1 February.

It was already known that, having recently ‘launched’ the 2015 livery with a show-car featuring a new-style nose, the Silverstone based team would not test the VJM08 at Jerez beginning on Sunday.

Initially, Force India planned to run the 2014 car instead, but the team announced on Twitter on Wednesday: “We have chosen not to run the old car in Jerez. The learning opportunities would have been limited so the focus is now on Barcelona.”

But despite his and co-owner Subrata Roy’s off-track legal troubles, team supremo Vijay Mallya insists all is well with Force India.

“The new car has been completely developed in Cologne,” the Indian told Kolner Express newspaper, referring to the decision to use Toyota’s state of the art wind tunnel. “It is regarded as one of the best in the world and is a big step for us.”

“We are proud that we were often better than McLaren last year. And once the European season begins, we want to be keeping up with the big teams,” he said.

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RENAULT: A VERY BIG STEP IN PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY

Revamped and invigorated Renault are confident their Formula 1 power unit will be a lot better this season after struggling in a 2014 campaign dominated by Mercedes.

“We knew what we had to do over the winter and we know what we have achieved,” F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said on Wednesday ahead of the start of testing in Spain at the weekend.

“We believe we have made a very big step in performance and will be more reliable.

“We may not have erased all the gaps but we are confident that we have gone a long way to making up the deficit of last season,” the Frenchman added.

Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, both owned by the Austrian energy drink company, are now Renault’s only teams after Lotus switched to Mercedes and Caterham went into administration with no buyer emerging.

Red Bull, champions four years in a row until they were dethroned by Mercedes last season, won three races in 2014 with Australian Daniel Ricciardo after a miserable start to pre-season testing.

The Renault engine was plagued with reliability issues, completing only a handful of laps in the first test, and was also outperformed by Mercedes throughout the campaign.

Last year was the first of the new V6 turbo hybrid era, replacing the old V8s, and the major change for 2015 is the reduction in the engine allocation from five to four per driver per season.

That will put even more of a premium of reliability but Renault F1 director of track operations Remi Taffin said big steps had been taken in that area already and this year’s engine was very different.

“Admittedly last year our record was not the best we could have hoped for,” he said. “But we worked very hard and made real improvements on reliability in the second part of the year.

“In fact we already had 2015 in mind last year as we ran all the parts to the life expected this season. That is, instead of running for the distance demanded by a five-per-year cycle, we tested them based on a four-per-year cycle, or 20 percent more than required.

“We feel prepared knowing that the parts have been running to the lifecycle needed for some time with very few issues.”

Renault have also carried out a structural reorganisation over the winter, with Taffin now in charge of all track and factory operations.

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HORNER: LAST YEAR VETTEL THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING F1

Before making the radical switch to Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel contemplated simply quitting Formula 1 claims Christian Horner, who as Red Bull team boss witnessed first-hand the German driver’s slide from four consecutive world titles to the struggles of 2014.

Last year, Vettel notably struggled to adapt to the sport’s new V6-powered format, and failed to stand even once at the top of the podium while teammate Daniel Ricciardo won three grands prix.

“You could tell he [Vettel] wasn’t happy,” Horner told reporters on Tuesday as he presented to the media Red Bull’s new lineup of Ricciardo alongside Russian youngster Daniil Kvyat.

“There was that feeling ‘am I [Vettel] enjoying this as much as I thought I was?'” Horner explained.

“It was like someone had taken his toy away. He went through a period of disillusionment about the direction Formula 1 was going in.”

“There was a stage last year when he thought about whether he wanted to stop or not, whether he was getting the same level of enjoyment or not and whether or not he wanted to continue,” he added.

Horner said Vettel, 27, ultimately got to grips with the ‘new’ F1, but also true is that the German had been in the process of deciding to switch to Ferrari for 2015.

“I think Sebastian felt the timing was right in his career,” he said. “He needed that stimulus of a new challenge.”

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RAIKKONEN BECOMES A FATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

This week Ferrari driver and double F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen has become a father for the first time.

Raikkonen’s fiancee, Minttu, is quoted by Finnish newspapers including Lansi Savo and Iltalehti as saying on Wednesday: “The little one saw light of day in Switzerland yesterday.”

“He is healthy, measuring 51cm and weighing 3.7kg. The parents are also well, happy and proud!” she added.

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MERCEDES ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH EPSON

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team and Epson, a global innovation leader in printing, visual communications, manufacturing and quality of life solutions for the office, home, commerce and industry, are pleased to announce a long-term partnership for the 2015 season onward.

Epson will become an Official Team Partner of the 2014 World Championship winning team, providing its expertise in the areas of printers, projectors, scanners and wearable technology.

With the location of the 20 Formula One Grands Prix closely reflecting Epson’s global footprint, the partnership with Mercedes AMG Petronas will provide a unique and highly visible platform for showcasing Epson’s advanced technologies and accelerating customer growth.

Epson branding will feature on the F1 W06 Hybrid race cars, and on the helmet visors and race suits of the team’s drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Minoru Usui, President of Epson: “We are extremely proud to enhance our global brand profile by becoming an official partner of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The partnership aligns two world-renowned champion brands committed to the relentless pursuit of innovation, the attainment of global leadership positions and the creation of products and services that continue to exceed expectations and emotionally engage stakeholders worldwide.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “We are delighted to welcome Epson to the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team as our preparations for the 2015 season gather pace. It is always a pleasure to work with forward-thinking companies and Epson’s products are a natural fit for our race and manufacturing operations. Epson’s use of innovative technology to deliver performance is perfectly aligned to what we strive to achieve in Formula One and we will be working closely with Epson to showcase these innovations and increase global awareness of their brand and products. We look forward to the season ahead and many successful years as partners.”

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MCLAREN TO TEST IN BLACK AHEAD OF SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT

McLaren looks set to debut its Honda powered MP4-30 at Jerez with an all-black livery, as the team reportedly has a surprise announcement in the pipeline soon after the first test.

Photographs started doing the rounds on Twitter depicting team returnee Fernando Alonso wearing his new white overalls with Honda, SAP, Mobil, Johnnie Walker, Pirelli and Sparco logos – but a big white space on the chest are.

McLaren’s 2015 driver uniform, also sported by Jenson Button for pre-season multimedia activities, is nearly identical to the ones raced last year by Button and Kevin Magnussen – with a couple of differences.

Notably, the sponsor logos of Hugo Boss and even Santander are now gone, but Autosprint are predicting that McLaren is keeping something up its sleeve.

The report said McLaren is likely to do a “double media launch”, starting with the public reveal of the MP4-30 on Thursday “with an anonymous livery”.

The second launch, Autosprint speculated, could be to unveil the actual race livery of the 2015 car, following reports McLaren is dropping its familiar silver look at Honda’s behest.

Marca reports it has learned that the Jerez test livery will be all black, although Alonso himself ‘tweeted’ a photo on Monday of two historical McLarens in the British team’s iconic orange.

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Sauber confirm launch date

Sauber will unveil their Ferrari-powered C34 design for the first time on its website on Friday, January 30.

The unveiling will take place at 9am GMT, two days before the season-opening testing session at Jerez.

After the 2014 season in which they failed to score even a single Championship point, the Swiss team will be desperate for an upturn in form.

They have replaces last year's drivers Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez with former Williams test driver Felipe Nasr and ex-Caterham racer Marcus Ericsson.

Ericsson will take the C34 through its paces at Jerez on Sunday, while Nasr will take over for the next two days.

Sauber will be the fourth team to reveal its 2015 car after Williams and Lotus already revealed their designs. McLaren then has its official online launch on Thursday.

Ferrari are also expected to launch their design publically on Friday.

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Alex Lynn confirmed as Williams development driver

GP3 champion Alex Lynn has joined Williams as the team's development driver, in addition to his already announced GP2 programme with DAMS.

Lynn has been in the frame since the end of last season, when he lost out to Carlos Sainz for the second Toro Rosso drive. With both RBR and STR likely to be full up for the foreseeable future he has now severed all ties with Red Bull, as there was not much point in staying on.

The team says that his primary role “will be using the team’s simulation tools to help with the ongoing development of the Williams Mercedes FW37 and assisting the race engineers in setting up the car for each Grand Prix.” He will also do a day of testing at the Barcelona test, after the Spanish GP.

Claire Williams said: “Williams has a strong track record in bringing young talent though the ranks and our Development Driver position is designed to fully immerse new recruits into the inner workings of a Formula One team. As a British team we are always on the lookout for emerging home-grown talent and Alex has caught our eye with his impressive performances in GP3. He has been chosen on merit and we are confident that alongside Felipe, Valtteri and Susie, Alex will help play an important role in making sure that the FW37 shows continuous improvement over the course of the 2015 season.”

“Over the past year the team has made huge strides forward and it’s clear to see their determination to fight for more success in the future,” said Lynn. “I hope that with a strong year in GP2, while also helping to develop the F1 car throughout this season, I can follow in the footsteps of Valtteri Bottas who joined the Williams team in exactly the same Development Driver role. Through hard work and determination, he has gone from winning the GP3 title to earning his place as a Williams F1 race driver.

“Working with people like Sir Frank Williams and Pat Symonds is an incredible opportunity for me. There is so much experience here at Williams and I hope to be able to use the knowledge gained from these people to further develop my skills as a racing driver and respected member of this team. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming from the outset, we have hit the ground running and I am very excited about the challenges this role offers – particularly my on track activities driving the FW37 in a few months time.”

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Newey was still 'designer' of 2015 Red Bull - Horner

This year's Red Bull is probably the last 100 per cent Adrian Newey car, team boss Christian Horner has admitted.

After Horner and his 2015 drivers met with the media on Tuesday, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said Horner put an actual percentage on the time Newey will spend on formula one from now on -- 50.

The other 50 per cent will be spent on projects like the America's Cup, but Horner said of the 2015-specification RB11: "He (Newey) is the designer of this car."

Horner revealed that Newey will also be at Jerez on Sunday to oversee the Renault-powered car's track debut, which will be driven around the Spanish circuit by Daniel Ricciardo.

But before then, Horner said, the team is still working hard.

Car still not ready for testing

When asked if the Jerez-spec RB11 is ready to run now, he admitted: "Not yet.

"We are flat out into car build at the moment, this is probably the shortest production and assembly time in our ten seasons."

Red Bull's late development of the 2014 car, and now pushing the time barriers with its successor, is undoubtedly because of the extent of Mercedes' dominance last year, with similar regulations still in play for 2015.

"Hopefully we will have made significant inroads into that advantage," said Horner.

Given the way Mercedes dominated last year, Horner's optimism was telling, and it was echoed by the team's new number 1 driver, Ricciardo.

"You'd like to think that Mercedes' room for improvement is smaller than everyone else's," the Australian said.

Worried about Williams

Another of Mercedes' challengers in 2015 will be the independent British team Williams, and Ricciardo said he expects them to be strong again this year.

"The big question mark is McLaren-Honda," he added. "Everyone will be watching to see what kind of step they can do.

"With Ferrari, there is no real sign they can gain a second a lap. McLaren, they could gain a second if it all gels with Honda," said Ricciardo.

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IS FORCE INDIA INSOLVENT AND ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE?

The latest Formula 1 team in serious peril and facing a possible shutdown is Force India, according to a well connected insider.

The Silverstone based team announced that it is sitting out the first test of the 2015 pre-season at Jerez.

The reasons for the decision have not been well explained, but technical boss Andrew Green has said it was a “conscious decision” to trade the test for more “development time”.

But insider Ralf Bach, who writes for Sport Bild and TZ Munchen, is reporting that the very future of the team is “far from certain”.

Bach reports that at the most recent F1 strategy group meeting in London, it emerged that Force India is facing financial collapse and is currently insolvent.

This means that the 2015 car is delayed because important suppliers have not been paid and are starting to demand payment before releasing parts.

It also emerged a few years ago that the Silverstone based team were notoriously slow in paying their suppliers, who have been patient and loyal, but this goodwill is now running thin.

Bach added: “If no money flows in the next four weeks, it is said even the opening two races in Australia and Malaysia are endangered.

“The team is for sale,” he wrote, “and Renault is interested as it wants to cut the cord to Red Bull and once again have a bigger presence in formula one.”

The off-track financial troubles of Vijay Mallya are well documented, and Force India’s co-owner Subrata Roy is even in jail.

As of October 2013, it had not paid salaries to its employees for 15 months, had lost its license to operate as an airline, and owed more than $1 billion in bank loans.

Kingfisher Airlines, established in 2005, was a major business venture launched by Mallya, but it eventually became insolvent and had to be closed down.

In August 2014, Mallya was declared ‘Willful Defaulter’ along with his three other directors of King Fisher Airlines by United Bank of India.

Earlier this year amid ongoing action relating to Kingfisher, a Mumbai court oredered that Mallya can no longer leave India unless he submits a detailed itinerary 48 hours in advance.

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MCLAREN LAUNCH THE HONDA POWERED MP4-30

McLaren-Honda – the name evokes stirring memories of the past; of Ayrton Senna battling Alain Prost for supremacy; of classic red and white machines dominating for season upon season; of an iconic team writing one of the defining chapters in the motor racing history books.

Reuniting such an illustrious partnership brings with it the heavy weight of expectation, but all at McLaren and Honda are working to write a fresh chapter in Formula 1, one that respectfully nods to the past, but boldly looks to the horizon.

Today’s reveal of the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 – McLaren’s first Honda-powered car for 23 years – speaks volumes about the progressive nature of both companies. It is a thoroughly refined evolution of last year’s McLaren, it is the only chassis on the grid to be fitted with Honda’s RA615H Hybrid power unit, and it features an evolved colour scheme that firmly contextualises McLaren’s brand in the 21st century.

MP4-30 – new technical DNA in the mix

In 2015 McLaren-Honda intends to maintain the momentum it achieved during the second half of 2014, when an intensive technical development programme for the MP4-29 allowed the team to establish a solid position within the chasing pack.

Relatively stable technical regulations between seasons have permitted our engineers to evolve some of the newer philosophies explored on last year’s season-ending car while also adding some exciting new technical DNA into the mix.

Moreover, our restructured and strengthened engineering departments have gained the conviction to embark on a number of changes of direction. With that in mind, the MP4-30 has been developed to provide us with the most effective and practical base package. It is a foundation – offering up a number of new exploratory development paths for our engineers, aerodynamicists and drivers to pursue during the season, and on into next year.

The car has been aerodynamically developed over the winter, and the result is a pretty, elegant design with a refined nose-box solution, slimmed rear-end packaging – particularly around the gearbox – and the incorporation of an all-new power unit under its tightly contoured bodywork.

Honda: a truly bespoke engineering solution

The partnership with Honda is particularly exciting: to achieve success within the technical regulations requires a bespoke engineering solution that can be achieved only in collaboration with a works partner. Honda will provide the know-how, the expertise and the muscle to make rapid progress – and to keep pushing development, on all fronts, during the season. The partnership will be a work in progress, but it will only strengthen over time.

Achieving our ambitious targets will not happen immediately – winning in Formula 1 is a lengthy, iterative process, and one that will gather collective momentum from season to season – but, with the MP4-30 as a base, McLaren and Honda feel they are ready to make quick and efficient progress towards a successful future.Partners new and old – a formula for success

The team’s preparations for 2015 have drawn upon the considerable resources of ExxonMobil, who have been working with our new colleagues at Honda for two years on developing new technologies and formulations of Mobil 1 engine lubricants for the Honda V6 turbo. In turn, the team’s technology partner, SAP, provides its secure HANA Enterprise Cloud solution which underpins the entire McLaren Group, strengthening and simplifying the way the team runs its data management and modelling.

There are significant milestones to commemorate in 2015: this year marks McLaren’s 30th consecutive year of partnership with TAG Heuer, while both Johnnie Walker and Hilton Worldwide are celebrating 10 years with the team. Such long-standing relationships underline McLaren’s ability to support and enhance any blue-chip brand’s global marketing programme.

Joining us for 2015 are international news broadcaster CNN and professional services company KPMG, which have both formed important strategic alliances with the McLaren Technology Group. McLaren-Honda is also pleased to welcome back the global coffee brand Segafredo Zanetti, which first partnered the team during the original McLaren-Honda era.

Fernando Alonso will begin on-track testing of the new MP4-30 at Jerez de la Frontera on Sunday, 1 February.

MIKA: Not sure I completely like the livery here....?

The front part has some red but then it stops at the mirrors. Almost looks like two cars spliced into one. Would love to see more red on the engine cover.

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MERCEDES PROVIDE EARLY LOOK AT 2015 CAR

World champions Mercedes released photos from their Silverstone shakedown, featuring Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg behind the wheel of the new F1 W06 Hybrid.

The team released the following statement: “Mercedes AMG Petronas today completed a first day of running with its 2015 specification Formula One car during a Promotional Event at Silverstone.”

“The F1 W06 Hybrid, powered by the PU106B Hybrid Power Unit, first departed the garage at 13:13 this afternoon in icy conditions at the Northamptonshire circuit.”

“Driven first by Nico Rosberg, then Lewis Hamilton, the car completed a total of 18 laps (47.2 km) before a blizzard brought filming to a halt.”

“The team will now ready the F1 W06 Hybrid for its public track debut in Jerez on Sunday 1 February.”

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ALONSO: MCLAREN-HONDA SHOULD BE AT THE FRONT OF THE GRID

Fernando Alonso spoke on the occasion of the unveiling of the McLaren Honda MP4-30, here is the transcript:

“Although the winter period is a time for rest and relaxation from racing, my motivation could not be stronger for the new season. I’ve done a lot of training during the winter break, to reach my peak physical fitness, and I’ve been working hard in preparation for this new era of McLaren-Honda. I’ve never felt better, or more ready for a new season.”

“Of course, we’re prepared for a steep learning curve, but it’s clear to see that inside McLaren-Honda there’s total commitment, and a real change in feeling, as we start this new partnership. We’re all focused on the challenge ahead, and I feel extremely honoured to be part of a relationship that has shared so much history together.”

“My aim is to help write a new chapter in the history of McLaren-Honda. We understand the effort and teamwork required to take McLaren-Honda back to where it should be, at the front of the grid, and all our energy as a team is focused on that goal.”

“Our first target will be to learn the maximum from the car at the pre-season tests, understand the package, and extract as much performance as possible. That won’t be easy or trouble-free, but we’re ready for that.”

“Why? Because our key focus will be on development. Historically, McLaren has already been characterised by its ability to bring updates to the car quickly, and develop a strong package. It’s going to be a real privilege to be the first person to drive the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 at Jerez, and I can’t wait to begin what I’m certain will be a very exciting new chapter in my career. I’m as motivated now as I was when I was given my first opportunity at the wheel of an F1 car.”

“Last but not least, I’m excited to be sitting alongside Jenson [button], a great team-mate and a very experienced competitor. Together we’ll push the team forward, to learn, to progress, and eventually to achieve the best possible results together. We are ready for the new era.”

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BUTTON: WE’RE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT IT WILL BE EASY

Jenson Button spoke on the occasion of the unveiling of the McLaren Honda MP4-30, here is the transcript:

“The off-season has really brought about a sense of renewal coming into 2015 – continuing my relationship with McLaren, getting married, and now embarking on such an exciting chapter: McLaren’s new partnership with Honda. I’ve trained hard over the winter, and I’m absolutely itching to get going in the new McLarenHonda MP4-30.”

“It’s been interesting to spend time in the factory during the past few weeks: you can really sense a feeling of reignited optimism and positivity around the building. I’ve never seen such motivation amongst the guys – we’re all massively keen to get going in Jerez and to work hard on developing our new car.”

“But we’re under no illusion that it will be easy – there’s a huge challenge ahead of us to try to pull back the gap to our rivals, but we’re certainly up for it. We ended last season with great momentum and clear progress, and I’m determined to carry that forward into 2015.”

“I’m also looking forward to working with my new team-mate, Fernando [Alonso], and I’m confident that our joint experience on track will pay dividends in our development race to get our team back to the front of the grid. I’m hugely motivated to make more history in this new McLaren-Honda era.”

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RED BULL RB11 HAS YET TO PASS FIA CRASH TESTS

Deposed champions Red Bull are reportedly pushing the boundaries with the state of readiness of it’s new challenger for the new Formula 1 world championship season.

Team boss Christian Horner has already admitted that, in the last few days before the first test at Jerez kicks off, the 2015-spec RB11 car is “not yet” readyand added “there is still plenty to do before Sunday.”

Now, Omnicorse claims the last 100 per cent Adrian Newey-designed Red Bull may not even have passed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests.

In the not-too-distant past, the crash tests only needed to be cleared ahead of a car’s actual grand prix debut, but now they are necessary even for testing.

It is believed Red Bull is pushing the time limits with 2015 crash testing not due to a problem with the chassis, but simply to give designers and engineers every possible minute to design and develop the RB11.

“Mercedes for sure are the benchmark,” Horner said. “They go in as the reigning champions and the favourites for this year and they had a significant advantage at the end of last year.”

Omnicorse said Red Bull, to unveil the car on the first morning of the first test at Jerez on Sunday, will try to pass the FIA tests at the Cranfield Impact Centre on Thursday, leaving just two clear days until the RB11’s Jerez debut.

A team spokesman said he is confident Red Bull will be ready for Jerez, with Horner revealing, “This is probably the shortest production and assembly time in our ten seasons — it is unbelievable what the factory have turned around so far.”

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HEIDFELD SAYS SCREAMING ENGINES PART OF F1 DNA

Former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld has lamented the loss of the sport’s familiar screaming engines.

Despite now racing an almost silent Formula E car, the 37-year-old former BMW and Williams driver said loud engine noise should be part of the F1 package.

“When I think of my time in formula one,” said Heidfeld, “I still hear those engines at 20,000rpm and screaming so loud you have goose bumps.

“That sound is important for formula one,” he told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, “it is part of the DNA of the series and it’s a pity they don’t sound like that anymore. Even a touring car is louder now.”

The German insisted, however, that the sound of F1 and Formula E cannot be compared, just as few other aspects of the two series can.

“It (the Formula E car) weighs just under 900 kilograms and in qualifying we have 300hp and in the race about 180,” he said.

“The acceleration, the cornering forces, the braking — none of those things can be compared with formula one,” Heidfeld added.

Where Formula E can compete, he argued, is on the skill of the drivers, “Of course there are many top people in F1, but some others are only there because they bring enough money. It’s not like that with us. In Formula E, the drivers are there because they drive well.”

Looking back to his own more than decade-long grand prix career, he said his favourite car was the title-winning McLaren of 1998.

“I was the test driver and the car was stunning,” said Heidfeld. “It was so wonderfully balanced, it had so much power. I immediately had the feeling of being at one with the machine.”

Despite his undoubted talent, more than 180 race starts and 13 podiums, however, Heidfeld never won in F1, and he admits that he looks back on his career with some regret.

“Yes,” he admitted, “especially shortly after it finished it was extremely difficult for me.

“I left Lotus in the middle of the 2011 season and I didn’t see it coming and was not prepared in my last race that my career was over.

“It was hard and it took time to get over it, but I think I grew stronger as a result,” said Heidfeld.

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New supersoft compound for Pirelli

Although Pirelli's 2015 tyres will largely be an evolution of last year's, the Italian manufacturer is introducing an all-new supersoft compound.

This season Pirelli will once again give the teams four different slick tyre compounds of which the tyre manufacturer will nominate two for each grand prix weekend.

But while most will be similar to last year's rubber, motorsport director Paul Hembery has revealed they are introducing a new supersoft compound.

"Last year we faced the biggest challenge that we had experienced since entering the sport, thanks to a completely new generation of cars that featured very different characteristics to before," he said.

"Nonetheless, we met all our targets of helping to provide entertaining races, plenty of overtaking opportunities, diverse strategy options and an average of two pit stops per car at each grand prix, despite the many unknown factors for everybody."

Hembery added: "This year's tyres will be evolutions of the 2014 tyres, with just one completely new tyre: the supersoft which has a fresh rear construction and compound."

Last year the supersoft tyres covered 34,422kms, just over a tenth of all the kilometres (339,213) Pirelli did during the year.

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McLaren could yet opt for new livery by Australia

The livery we saw today may not be what we see on the grid in 2015.

McLaren's silver/grey livery caused something of a stir today with many observers surprised that the team opted for colours that were so closely connected with the team's partnership with Mercedes from 1997 to 2014.

Keeping with Mercedes-style look

The team noted that the MP4-30 "features an evolved colour scheme that firmly contextualises McLaren’s brand in the 21st century.” At first glance it would appear that Ron Dennis is convinced that the world associates the current livery with McLaren as a team, and not Mercedes, even if others in the camp may believe differently.

However this writer understands that while the team has not stated that what we saw today is an interim or testing livery, the car could yet look different by the first race in Melbourne – and at the very least the option still exists to change.

Santander negotiations ongoing

It's worth noting too that while Santander remains on the team's website it did not feature on the car or drivers today. Apparently negotiations are still ongoing, and the death last September of the company's former boss and huge F1/Alonso fan Emilio Boton may have complicated matters. Intriguingly Jenson Button Tweeted recently that he was filming a Santander ad.

It remains to be seen whether a new deal with Santander or perhaps another yet-to-be-announced sponsor means that what we saw today is a temporary livery that was a quick and easy solution for the launch.

It was certainly one that will match the transporters and so on that will be in the paddock at the three upcoming tests in Spain. If there is a late change of car livery before Australia then there is plenty of time to repaint the transporters before they are next seen again at the Spanish GP in May.

Meanwhile a pre-Melbourne reveal of an all-new livery would be a second bite of the PR cherry for both the team and Honda.

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Toro Rosso teases fans with short STR10 clip

Toro Rosso were the first team to give their 2015 car, the STR10, a shakedown during a filming day at the Misano circuit in Italy.

The team posted a short 12-second clip on YouTube showing the car blasting down the main straight.