FORMULA 1 - 2016

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Ferrari launches its 2016 Formula 1 car - the SF16-H

Ferrari has become the latest team to unveil its new Formula 1 car, the SF16-H, as it aims to push Mercedes to the wire in the 2016 championship.

The team opted for an online launch, with team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, technical director James Allison and drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on hand to reveal the Scuderia's new challenger.

The livery sports more white than has been seen in recent years, predominantly on the engine cover and front wing.

In terms of making the car "properly competitive", according to Allison, Ferrari has opted for changes in a number of areas.

The nose is shorter and higher, impacting positively on the aerodynamics, while after four years with a pullrod suspension, the car is now fitted with a pushrod system.

Ferrari has worked on its power unit's architecture, making it tighter and narrower, so influencing the engine cover, which again aids aero.

The engine team has also improved combustion, the turbo and air intake in a bid to find more performance.

Asked as to the car's prospects, Arrivabene said: "Normally I am not setting the objectives, my boss sets the objective for the team.

"I think this year, we need to push a bit more. We would like to fight until the end for the championship.

"I know that is not going to be easy, because our competitors are not sleeping, but we are committed to do our best."

After scoring three grand prix victories with Vettel last season, the team will be looking to push Mercedes even further this season.

Ferrari made considerable gains with its power unit in 2015 that allowed it to step out of the shadows of its winless campaign the year before.

But come the conclusion to the season, Vettel still finished 103 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings, with Mercedes 275 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

That underlined the gap Ferrari still has to bridge to Mercedes this year if it is to consider itself a realistic title contender.

Assessing Ferrari's challenge for the year ahead, Allison said: "Back in 2013, Ferrari was not at the right level, the championship, except for maybe doing pitstops.

"We've worked very hard on all of those areas. Last year was a decent step forward and we hope this car will be another good step forward to make us properly competitive.

"We have improved across the board. All our hopes are in this car, and we can't wait to see it on the track."

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WILLIAMS UNVEIL THE FW38 WITH HOPES HIGH FOR 2016

Williams hope their new FW38 Formula One car, presented online on Friday, will address last year’s problems and be quicker on the slower tracks and in wet conditions.

“The FW37 was a pretty effective car and so we concentrated on understanding the areas where we could improve it without losing the attributes which made it effective,” said engineering head Pat Symonds in an interview conducted by the team.

“It is no secret that the low speed performance of the FW37 didn’t match its high speed performance so a lot of time was spent looking into why this was and subsequently making changes, which we hope will improve the situation.”

Williams finished third overall last year in the constructors’ championship for the second season in a row but again failed to win a race.

The British-based team, whose last world championship title was with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1997, have not won a grand prix since Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado triumphed in Spain in 2012.

With Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, Williams took four podium finishes in 2015.

Team founder and principal Frank Williams said retaining third place would be a challenge but the aim was to return to the ranks of race winners in a series dominated by engine partners Mercedes for the past two years.

“We will have to wait until Melbourne to find out exactly where we stand in the pecking order but I’m confident that our hard work over the winter will stand us in good stead,” said Williams.

The season, with a record 21 races scheduled, starts in Australia on March 20.

“As a team we need to be able to win races, which is what we are always trying to do,” said Bottas, now in his fourth season with the team and linked to Ferrari last year as a possible replacement for compatriot Kimi Raikkonen.

“I’m sure we have made improvements everywhere as a team, so we’re definitely looking to fight for better results this year.”

Deputy principal Claire Williams said the team had started design work earlier than usual and the car launched on Friday would have further updates before racing in Melbourne.

It will make its track debut at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Monday at the start of pre-season testing.

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ALLISON: WE HOPE THE SF16-H WILL BE ANOTHER GOOD STEP FORWARD

Ferrari showed off what they hope will be a Mercedes-beating car on Friday with the target of fighting for the Formula One championship right to the end of the season.

While world champions Mercedes had their 2016 car running for the first time at a grey Silverstone circuit for a private filming day, Ferrari revealed their red and white SF16-H car in an online presentation.

Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, who last year set a target of three victories after the sport’s most successful team failed to win anything in 2014, set the bar considerably higher this time.

“Last year the objective was three victories, we got it. But I think this year we need to push a bit more,” said the Italian. “So it’s going to be the championship. At least we would like to fight until the end for the championship.

“I know that’s not going to be easy because our competitors are not sleeping at all,” he added. “But for sure we are all committed to do our best.”

Mercedes have won 32 of the last 38 races, and both the driver and constructor titles for two years in a row. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, now a triple champion, wrapped up last year’s crown with three races to spare.

Ferrari have not won a driver’s title since Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, who is still with the team, won in 2007. They were last constructors’ champions in 2008.

Raikkonen, on stage with four times champion team mate Sebastian Vettel who won his titles with Red Bull and joined Ferrari last year, could be in his last season.

The Finn, now 36 and the oldest driver on the starting grid, wanted another shot at a championship.

“I am still the same guy, just some years older,” he said. “So the aim is to do well and have a strong season.”

Testing starts at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Monday. The first race on a record 21-round calendar is in Australia on March 20.

Technical head James Allison said Ferrari had taken big steps last year.

“We didn’t have enough power in 2014, we didn’t have enough downforce, kinematics on our suspension were not ideal and our packaging left a lot to be desired as well,” he said.

“We’ve worked very hard, the whole team has worked very hard, on all those areas. Last year was a decent step forward and we hope this car will be another good step forward, another step to make us properly competitive.”

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IS THE FERRARI SF16-H THE TEAMS MOST IMPORTANT F1 CAR EVER?

Not in a long time, if ever, have Ferrari been under such immense pressure to deliver in Formula 1 as they are this year and their hopes for the 2016 season lie with the SF16-H, which was revealed to the public on Friday.

Why is the 2016 challenger more important than previous Maranello offspring? Because it is the fruits of the year old regime that took over in a revolution instigated and led by Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne early last year.

It is also the first Ferrari in which quadruple F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel was been actively involved in developing almost from scratch. It is the car that will determine if the massive changes at Maranello were in fact worth it and, crucially, if the team have the right brains to take them forward.

Furthermore the SF16-H simply cannot fail from the moment it runs in anger starting next week in Barcelona at the first pre-season test. And then it has got to be a serious challenger to the might of Mercedes at the season opener in Melbourne next month as deemed by Marchionne himself.

Big pressure on the neat piece of kit which now sports, as predicted, substantial dollops of white on the predominantly red livery, conjuring up images from the seventies, and giving it a distinct retro look.

“A shortened nose, a tapered rear end and an intriguing red-and-white livery are the signature features of the new SF16-H. The name refers to the hybrid powertrain, which enters its third season in the Formula One World Championship,” wrote the team in the first media snippet about the car.

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SYMONDS: WILLIAMS HAS REGAINED THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT IT IS FAMOUS FOR

As Williams unveils its 2016 challenger, Pat Symonds, Chief Technical Officer talks through the development and design of the Williams Mercedes FW38 ahead of the first test in Barcelona.

What was the conceptual thinking behind the FW38?

The FW37 was a pretty effective car and so we concentrated on understanding the areas where we could improve it without losing the attributes which made it effective. It is no secret that the low speed performance of the FW37 didn’t match its high speed performance so a lot of time was spent looking into why this was and subsequently making changes, which we hope will improve the situation. On top of this we looked at the normal physical obstacles to development that one always meets during the life of a car and tried to push those barriers back.

When did the design process start?

This is always slightly difficult to answer precisely as one is always discussing the path of improved performance with the senior engineers. However in mid-January 2015, before the FW37 had even run, we held a meeting to try and work our way through a concept ‘shopping list’ and to narrow down the areas in which we hoped the FW38 would out perform its pre-nascent forerunner. As we started running the FW37 we could see more clearly the design directions we wanted to take with the next car and at the same time started laying out the basic architecture such that critical path items would hit their design release targets. The monocoque and gearbox, for example, fall into this category as both need considerable time, not just in design but also in structural analysis.

Other than a host of new cars what else does 2016 bring?

Well we have very few changes to the technical regulations. As always we are trying to improve safety and so the cockpit sides adjacent to the driver’s head are not only higher but they are also significantly stronger. Something the spectators may notice more is that the engines will sound a bit sharper. Over the winter we can expect more power from improved combustion and this will in itself produce a bit more noise but perhaps more significantly the turbo wastegate is no longer plumbed into the main exhaust. This should not only produce an engine note that is around 12% louder than before but may also from time to time trigger some of the dramatic sounds we all associate with high performance turbo charged engines.

So technically not much change – what about the sporting regulations?

Here we can expect to see much more change particularly with regard to tyre usage. It has long been recognised that the more prescriptive a set of rules are, the more similar the outcomes of a competition will be. With this in mind it was decided to introduce an additional fifth tyre compound at the soft end of the spectrum and, more importantly, give the teams greater freedom in the choice of tyres they use.

While I don’t think this is an earth shattering change it still has the potential to spring the odd surprise from time to time.

What about Williams – how will 2016 pan out for the team?

One can never tell because no matter how much effort you put in and no matter what the magnitude of your improvements all things in sport are relative. This means the outcome of the season is not just a function of your efforts but those of your competitors as well. At Williams we are honest about our mistakes and try to learn from them. Just as in the design of the car we always analyse strengths and weaknesses, so we do with the team. This has led to several operational changes for 2016 which, although not particularly visible from the outside, should see the team better able to cope with the many variant scenarios that racing will inevitably throw at them. One strength we take into 2016 is stability. It is easy to underestimate the power of this but with the same driver pairings and continuity in the engineering team we hope to be up to speed quickly – something particularly important with only 8 days of pre-season testing.

So predictions for 2016 then…

I have been in the sport far too long to fall into the trap of making predictions. Over the last couple of years Williams has regained the competitive spirit it was so long famous for. I want to harness and augment that spirit and use it to drive us forward in a progressive manner while always keeping a strategic eye on the future and in particular the big changes due for 2017.

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2016 Ferrari SF16-H Stickering

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WILLIAMS: THE CAR WE ARE LAUNCHING TODAY IS NOT FINAL PRODUCT

The new Williams Mercedes FW38 was unveiled ahead of the first Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona, Spain next week.

For a third successive season the iconic red, white and blue stripes of WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING will be lining up on the Formula One grid, with the team looking to build on a successful 2015 season that resulted in four podiums and a third place finish in the Constructors’ Championship.

Commenting on the new FW38 Sir Frank Williams, Founder and Team Principal, said; “Williams has started to cement our position back amongst the front running teams after finishing third in the Championship in the past two seasons. This has been a great achievement given the resources of those around us. Staying where we are will be a challenge in itself, but we are determined to keep improving because only winning will ever be good enough.

“We have a very stable team going into 2016, with Felipe and Valtteri teaming up for a third successive season. They work well together and both have the ideal blend of speed and consistency. Our technical team has also remained very consistent which will be to our advantage and we have some of the best engineering minds on the grid at our disposal.

“We have a busy couple of weeks of testing coming up to learn more about our package and to refine the car ahead of the first race. We will have to wait until Melbourne to find out exactly where we stand in the pecking order but I’m confident that our hard work over the winter will stand us in good stead.”

Felipe Massa added; “Securing third in the Constructors’ Championship for two consecutive years is a great achievement and one that comes with a lot of expectation – a momentum which I am excited to build on going into the new season. The team at the factory have worked really hard on the new car and we have spent a lot of time understanding where we need to improve. I have a lot of confidence in the team at Williams and I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the FW38 to see how it performs. I’m equally delighted to be teammates with Valtteri for another year. He is a very talented driver who brings a lot to the team.”

Valtteri Bottas, who is about to embark on his fourth season in Formula One with Williams, said: “This is always a really interesting and exciting time of the year because we have a new car and we can’t wait to get it out on track to see how it feels and how fast it is. It’s been a good winter and from what I’ve seen we seem to be headed in a good direction with this car. Testing next week will be our chance to see how our performance has improved since the last race. The development of the FW38 has been all positive in theory, now we just need to see it on track.

“As a team we need to be able to win races, which is what we are always trying to do. I’m sure we have made improvements everywhere as a team, so we’re definitely looking to fight for better results this year. I’d like to thank everyone at the factory for their hard work over the winter in getting the car ready.”

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, concluded. “2016 promises to be a very competitive year in Formula One and there will be a number of strong teams who have us in their sights. We are confident that we have made a step forward over the winter and that the FW38 will build on the strengths of the FW37 and address some of its weaknesses. We started design work on the car earlier than normal and hopefully this extra development time will stand us in good stead.

“The car we are launching today is by no means the final product. We are already planning updates for Melbourne and will be pushing for constant improvements over the course of the season. Williams enters 2016 in a strong place. We have a great team of people and over the past two years we have started to regain our competitive edge. Now we need to build on that and take this team back to where we all want it to be.”

The FW38 will take to the track for the first time on 22nd February for eight days of testing that concludes on 4th March. The season officially gets under way at the first race in Melbourne, Australia, on 20th March.

Williams Mercedes FW38 Technical Specification

• Chassis construction: Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements
• Front suspension: Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
• Rear suspension: Double wishbone, pull-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
• Transmission: Williams eight speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated
• Clutch: Carbon multi-plate
• Dampers: Williams
• Wheels: APP Tech forged magnesium
• Tyres: Pirelli, Fronts: 245/660-13, Rears: 325/660-13
• Brake system: AP 6 piston front and 4 piston rear calipers with carbon discs and pads
• Steering: Williams power assisted rack and pinion
• Fuel system: ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder
• Electronic systems: FIA SECU standard electronic control unit
• Cooling system: Aluminium oil, water and gearbox radiators
• Cockpit: Six point driver safety harness with 75mm shoulder straps & HANS system, removable anatomically formed carbon fibre seat
• Power Unit: Mercedes-Benz PU106C Hybrid , Internal Combustion Engine : Capacity 1.6 litres, Cylinders Six, Bank angle 90, No of valves 24, Max rpm ICE 15,000 rpm, Max fuel flow rate 100 kg/hour (above 10,500 rpm)
• Fuel injection: High-pressure direct injection (max 500 bar, one injector/cylinder), Pressure charging Single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine on a common shaft, Max rpm exhaust turbine 125,000 rpm
  ERS: Mercedes AMG HPP
  Dimensions & weight: Weight: FIA Minimum, Overall length: 5000mm, Overall height: 950mm, Overall width: 1800mm

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2016 Ferrari SF16-H - Sebastian Vettel

2016 Ferrari SF16-H - Kimi Raikkonen

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McLaren signs Richard Mille to replace TAG Heuer

McLaren has signed Richard Mille as its new watch sponsor, in the wake of its parting of ways with long-time backer TAG Heuer at the end of last season.

The Woking-based outfit had been with TAG Heuer for 30 years, but the Swiss company has moved across to Red Bull and taken naming rights to that team's engines.

Now, Richard Mille has concluded a 10-year deal to join McLaren, which will mean Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will wear its watches.

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis said: "A 10-year partnership with McLaren underlines our shared belief in the value of long-term agreements, and the benefits that can be derived from growing and developing together.

"The two brands share a distinct common DNA: a passion for design, technology and aesthetics, and I'm excited about the great work we can achieve together over the next 10 years."

Mille himself said: "The chance to partner with McLaren is particularly timely: we've been evaluating Formula 1 on a restricted basis for several years, but this opportunity has enabled us to engage in a deeper, more meaningful way, with proper focus and effort directed on a major team."

Richard Mille is no stranger to F1 sponsorship, having previously backed the Lotus team as well as supporting the late Jules Bianchi.

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Formula 1 on brink of 'last chance' cut-off for 2017 rules revamp

Formula 1 heads into its last-chance saloon on Tuesday when it comes to formulating the regulations for 2017.

Following months of deliberations, meetings of the Strategy Group and F1 Commission are to take place in Geneva at which it is hoped a way forward can finally be found regarding next year's rules.

Attempting to put flesh on the bones of last May's boldly-stated aims of making the cars five to six seconds per lap quicker has proven more problematic than at first anticipated.

Self-interest has blocked views of the bigger picture to such an extent Autosport understands there is every possibility the changes may be put on hold until 2018.

As one source remarked: "We will have reached the point of no return by next Tuesday.

"It's OK to have self interest, but we need to do what makes sense for what we want the cars to do.

"If we build cars that are great on downforce, but you can't overtake anymore, and Pirelli has to put 35psi into the tyres to make them last, then the sport is not being helped in any way, so we need to find a reasonable approach."

Recent meetings of the technical heads of the F1 teams and FIA technical director Charlie Whiting have yielded some answers, but also thrown up more issues.

Following a meeting at Pirelli's headquarters in Milan earlier this month, attended by FIA president Jean Todt, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, team principals and a number of drivers, promises were made that matters would be finalised by the end of this month.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner feels the opportunity cannot be passed up to resolve the situation for next season, rather than waiting until 2018.

He backed Sebastian Vettel's recent assertion that F1 is currently "too complex" and masks driver skill.

Horner said: "I thought he was absolutely right.

"F1 needs to be more about the drivers. The driver needs to be a bigger differential within the whole package, and we have a great opportunity to address that for 2017.

"The mandate was clear to make cars five or six seconds a lap quicker, much harder to drive, more spectacular and sort the men from the boys.

"I sincerely hope by the end of this month we manage to agree upon regulations that achieve that."

Suggested to Horner by Autosport it was likely the rules may not come into play until 2018, he replied: "There is a determination within the FIA to see change.

"What you don't want to see is consensus and compromise which was what happened with the engines.

"This is where we need strong governance and clarity from the commercial rights holder and the governing body to say 'these are the regulations'."

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VERSTAPPEN: I WILL JUST FLOOR IT

Formula 1 teenage sensation Max Verstappen is not getting carried away with talk Toro Rosso could beat the premier Red Bull team in 2016, and despite penalty points on his super licence he will still drive with pedal to the metal.

Verstappen said that even though the FIA added multiple penalty points to his super license last year, he will not pull back his aggressive driving style.

“To have that many [penalty points] I think is quite strange,” he said. “But I will not race less hard or differently. I will just floor it.”

With the Red Bull Faenza based junior squad switching to Ferrari power but Red Bull Racing staying with Renault this year, some suggest Toro Rosso may be higher on the grid.

“At the start of the year, yes,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Toro Rosso’s 18-year-old star Verstappen, however, is keeping his expectations in check, “Normally, Red Bull should be ahead of us.”

“Red Bull still has one of the best cars. For sure, at the end of last year, they were quicker than we were, so I think that they are still capable of being fast again,” Verstappen added. “But it is hard to say because they have a different package and also a different engine.”

He is therefore wary that, no matter how the year starts, Toro Rosso could ultimately be overtaken as its late 2015-spec Ferrari engine is out-developed by rivals.

“That is a possibility, I guess,” said Verstappen. “We have an engine that is not developed any further as opposed to most of the teams that have developed theirs.

“It’s a pity, but we certainly need to seize every moment we can in the first couple of races,” he added.

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HAAS VF-16 SIGNALS RETURN OF AN AMERICAN TEAM TO FORMULA 1

The VF-16, Haas F1 Team’s first racecar, has arrived. The car officially broke cover today via Haas F1 Team’s social media channels and Website. It hits the track Monday for the first day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya.

The origin of naming the car “VF-16” goes back to the first CNC machine manufactured by Haas Automation, the VF-1, launched in 1988. The “V” stands for vertical, which is an industry standard designation for a vertical mill. Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, added “F1” to the name to unofficially designate it as the company’s “Very First One”.

Now as chairman of Haas F1 Team, the “F1” moniker of that first machine takes on new significance as Haas joins the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, becoming the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years.

“From an international standpoint, Formula One is the highest echelon of racing, and Haas Automation builds the highest-quality machine tools,” said Haas, who has grown Haas Automation into the largest machine tool builder in North America with more than $1 billion in annual sales.

“When you hear ‘F1’ you know exactly what it is – a global racing series that showcases the latest technology and attracts the best talent in engineering and design. Haas Automation has an excellent reputation in the United States and I want that reputation to grow worldwide. Connecting Haas Automation with F1 in name and in practice is the best way to grow our business and elevate Haas Automation to a premium, global brand.”

The dark gray, light gray and red-toned livery of the VF-16 was derived from the scheme of Haas Automation’s complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers. Approximately 1,300 employees encompass Haas Automation, with the Oxnard, California-based company exporting those machines to more than 60 countries. The VF-16 showcases Haas Automation’s commitment to technology and innovation to a passionate, global audience.

“Just as Haas Automation’s products continually evolve, becoming better and more efficient, our methodology behind the VF-16 was to make it the best evolution of a good F1 car,” said Guenther Steiner, team principal, Haas F1 Team. “We’re a new team, so we looked at what the successful teams were doing to give us a baseline of the direction we needed to go with our design.

“We have very experienced designers who worked hard to develop all the little things from an aerodynamic perspective that, collectively, add up to a lot. And our technical partner, Ferrari, provided our power unit, and that really defined the rear end of the car and how big it needed to be.

“Our goal with this car is to score points,” Steiner states. “First, we need to go out there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock. Then, we want to score points. That is the ultimate goal.”

The VF-16 tests at Barcelona Feb. 22-25 and again March 1-4 before its debut race, the season-opening Australian Grand Prix March 20 in Melbourne.

MIKA: Quite a nice design really, when one compares to that of the previous newcommers, they always look new and underfunded. Haas F1 looks as if it's been around in F1 for a while, it blends easily with the midfield and top teams. Hope they have a great first season.

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FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONS REVEAL THE MERCEDES FW07

Mercedes have revealed their 2016 Formula 1 challenger, the W07, as they set out in search of a third consecutive championship double and by default they are the team to beat as they target a treble of drivers’ and constructors’ F1 world titles.

Mercedes hasn’t been seriously challenged since major rule changes were introduced in 2014, leaving opponents struggling to keep pace with defending champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes was able to get an early feel for its new car during a promotional event a few days ago, and based on Rosberg’s first impressions, it’s not good news for the rest of the grid.

“Here we go, what an awesome feeling, first lap with the new Silver Arrow,” Rosberg said in a video released by the team. “Flat-out down the stretch, eighth gear, it feels really quick already.”

World champion team’s Paddy Lowe, the Executive Director (Technical), Mercedes AMG Petronas spoke about their newest weapon, built in an environment of stable regulations challenge engineers to dig deep and find “mini revolutions” for the Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid chassis and PU106C Hybrid Power Unit.

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MCLAREN-HONDA REVEALS THEIR NEW F1 CAR FOR 2016

McLaren-Honda revealed its brand-new Formula 1 challenger, the MP4-31, ahead of the first all-team test, which will begin in Barcelona on Monday.

The striking and innovative MP4-31 chassis integrates the new Honda RA616H power unit, developed exclusively for the team.

Although a high level of continuity in Formula 1’s technical regulations has enabled the team to strengthen and mature many of the design concepts developed on last year’s McLaren-Honda MP4-30, the new car also incorporates a significant number of all-new innovations. The result is a balance of remarkably elegant aerodynamic solutions with a highly space-efficient integration of Honda’s new-for-2016 power unit.

While McLaren’s race team has spent an extremely busy few months developing the MP4-31 right up to the very tight deadline dictated by the truncated modern off-season, its marketing team has also enjoyed a very strong winter, announcing a raft of prestigious new commercial deals to add to a roster of equally valued existing partners.

Joining McLaren-Honda’s partner group for 2016 will be the world-renowned luxury watch brand Richard Mille, which commences a 10-year marketing, branding and licensing collaboration.

Global luxury goods giant LVMH will continue its long unbroken association with the team, through its premium sparkling wine brand Chandon, whose rising-star identity will adorn both the MP4-31 and the drivers’ race suits.

Other important and valuable recent acquisitions include a brand-new haulage supplier, Volvo Trucks, and a brand-new technical services provider, IT Lab, while official services supplier ISS has renewed and extended its partnership. Also, official electronic communications supplier Kenwood celebrates 25 years as a McLaren partner this year. Finally, 2016 marks the second year of a 10-year alliance with KPMG.

In addition to the aforementioned acquisitions and renewals, McLaren-Honda is once again privileged to count on the loyal support of an impressive portfolio of partners old and new, including Johnnie Walker, SAP, Hilton Worldwide, CNN, Santander, GSK, Mazak, AkzoNobel Sikkens, Segafredo Zanetti, Akebono, Norton Rose Fulbright, Enkei, Repucom, Sparco, Maxi Nutrition, Asics and TechnoGym.

Last but very far from least, McLaren-Honda’s preparations for 2016 have once again benefitted enormously from the unrivalled resources and expertise of ExxonMobil, which is celebrating 22 years of partnership with McLaren this year. ExxonMobil’s engineers, together with their counterparts at Honda, have been tirelessly developing pioneering new technologies and formulations of Esso fuels and Mobil 1 lubricants for the all-new Honda RA616H V6 turbo power unit, and Mobilube 1 SHC racing gear oil for McLaren’s bespoke eight-speed gearbox.

Importantly, the size and calibre of our partner roster – and its collective commitment to the team – underscores the confidence that all at McLaren have in our journey back to the podium.

ALONSO: THE WHOLE CAR IS BEAUTIFUL

Fernando Alonso spoke on the eve of the first Formula 1 test of the 2016 preseason, on the occasion of the launch of the McLaren-Honda team’s MP4-31.

“The start of a new season is always a special feeling, characterised by a lot of anticipation for the year ahead. This year is no different: I’m excited and raring to go.”

“Last year the spotlight was very much on McLaren-Honda as we embarked on the first year of our renewed partnership. It was a tricky season for all of us, but we learned a hell of a lot.”

“Likewise, it’s been a very productive winter for me. I’ve been training extremely hard, as usual, but also enjoying time with my family, and keeping tabs on all the hard work going on at the McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, where the McLaren guys have been doing an incredible job to get everything ready in time. The Honda boys have been working flat-out in Sakura, too.”

“The aero package shows fantastic attention to detail. The whole car is beautiful in fact – it’s particularly nicely packaged from an aerodynamic point of view as I say – and I’m 100 per cent ready for the challenge ahead.”

BUTTON: THE BRAND-NEW MP4-31 REALLY LOOKS THE PART

On the occasion of the launch of McLaren’s 2016 Formula 1 challenger, Jenson Button says his team is fired up for the new season with positive energy, the Briton will be the first to drive the all new Honda powered MP4-31

“I really can’t wait to take the wheel of the new MP4-31 tomorrow. All Formula 1 drivers need a winter break, but I’m massively excited to get started on the 2016 season now, and I have to say the brand-new McLaren-Honda MP4-31 really looks the part.”

“Moreover, having spent quite a bit of time at the McLaren Technology Centre recently, I can tell you that there’s a huge amount of palpable positive energy there at the moment, despite the challenging yet steep learning curve we all travelled along in 2015.”

“In fact, the immense amount of sheer hard work that has gone into the development of the MP4-31 over the winter makes me immensely proud, and consequently I go into the new season with even more motivation and belief.”

“Despite the ups and downs we saw last year, there were steady improvements all year long, and that gives us confidence in the design direction we’re taking. There are a lot of positives we can build on, and a strong platform to take forward. I’m not about to make any over-optimistic predictions.”

“Formula 1 is far too unpredictable for me to do that – but, from what I’ve seen so far, the aero detailing on the car looks fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to beginning the process of testing those new innovations when I get behind the wheel tomorrow.”

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DENNIS: WE HAVE THE BEST DRIVER LINE-UP IN THE SPORT

Ron Dennis, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McLaren Technology Group, spoke when his team unveiled the McLaren-Honda MP4-31.

“As we embark on the second year of our renewed McLaren-Honda partnership, all of us remain united in our purpose. That purpose is to develop our team towards our shared ambition: to win.”

“We’ll make no predictions as to when those wins will come, but I can say without fear of contradiction that every member of our team has worked with truly relentless dedication over the past few months. The result is that MP4-31’s developmental trajectory has been usefully steepened over the winter, and I’m consequently very proud of our team’s efforts.”

“We remain resolute in our commitment to our goals, and we maintain an indefatigable commitment to the winning potential of a full works team. Believe me: the full works backing of a multinational automotive manufacturer is the only platform from which real success in modern Formula 1 can be achieved.”

“As McLaren-Honda, therefore, we’ve vowed to work together, and to win together, and that determination has become further cemented as our relationship has deepened through the shared challenges we faced last year.”

“We have the best driver line-up in the sport. We have an engineering team that has been meticulously hand-picked, restructured, guided and inspired; the blend of technical skill-sets and attitudinal mind-sets we now possess are fit-for-purpose and state-of-the-art.”

And, thanks to the relationships we’ve nurtured with a hugely impressive roster of loyal and powerful partners, our commercial position is equally robust.”

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SCHUMACHER MOVES TO FERRARI-LINKED TEAM

Mick Schumacher’s team switch within the lower-tier categories of Formula 4 has now been confirmed.

In early January, we reported that the 16-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher was looking to switch from his Van Amersfoort team to the top Ferrari-linked outfit Prema for 2016.

The move was announced officially on Friday, and Kolner Express, a German tabloid, claims it will mean Schumacher will contest races in both the German and Italian F4 series this year.

Schumacher finished the full German series tenth overall on his 2015 single-seater debut.

“Prema for me is the perfect next step on my way to go for the best performance and to become a complete driver,” said the teenager.

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MATSUSHITA BECOMES MCLAREN TEST AND DEVELOPMENT DRIVER

Press Release: McLaren-Honda is pleased to announce that Nobuharu Matsushita has joined the team as test and development driver.

The Japanese driver will focus on simulator support and engineering work to underline the efforts of our race drivers, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, as well as reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

His appointment showcases the collaboration that exists between McLaren Racing and Honda to discover, train and give opportunity to young and promising racing drivers. The 22-year-old won the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship in 2014 then graduated to GP2 for 2015 – racing for ART Grand Prix, alongside eventual champion Vandoorne.

In ’16, he hopes to endorse his credentials with a tilt at the 2016 GP2 title, which he will again contest with ART.

“This season I am ecstatic to be joining the McLaren-Honda F1 team as a test and development driver,” said Matsushita. “To step into the world of Formula 1 fulfils a boyhood dream, and is a huge step forward in my career. I will do the utmost to help the race team on the track, by gathering data to feed back into the development and set-up of the car through simulator work.

“Last year’s GP2 Series season was a steep learning curve for me,” he added. “It was my first year racing in Europe – but, thankfully, my experiences with Honda’s young driver programme meant I was well prepared for the task ahead.

“As a GP2 Series driver, my sole focus for 2016 is to win the championship. I believe that I have the best package around me to succeed and reach my ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver.”

McLaren-Honda racing director Eric Boullier added: “Nobu’s first season racing in Europe showed great promise – he produced some extremely impressive performances, and with experience and consistency, will surely build on that potential in 2016. His position as a McLaren-Honda test and development driver will be extremely important – he’ll underline and corroborate the learning we acquire at the track, and will play a key role in improving our performance throughout 2016.”

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BIG SMILES IN MERCEDES CAMP AFTER 2016 F1 CAR DEBUT

Nico Rosberg gave Mercedes’ new 2016 car an early thumbs-up on Friday ahead of the first Formula 1 preseason test in Barcelona.

On Silverstone’s short layout, the German driver was the first at the wheel of the W07 during a 100 kilometre ‘filming day’.

“It was a good feeling to start with,” he told Britain’s Sky television. “I felt at home straight away.

“I could push as if I raced Abu Dhabi yesterday so a good beginning,” added Rosberg, whose teammate Lewis Hamilton also got a turn at the wheel.

Their technical boss Paddy Lowe agreed: “Everything has gone very well. We haven’t even taken the engine cover off yet in the whole morning session which is a really good sign of the reliability that we’ve achieved at this point.”

The car, which Lowe said was “a little bit louder” than the 2015 version even though it was not running at full throttle, will now be taken to Barcelona for the start of official testing on Monday.

Hamilton and Rosberg will alternate during the four days of the first preseason F1 testing in Barcelona, with the world champion scheduled to be in the cockpit on the first day.

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Our goal is to get this car in the points - Haas

Haas F1 Team technical director Guenther Steiner says their aim must be to get in the points with their newly launched VF-16 car, a goal he believes is achievable in their debut season.

It's a feat neither Virgin, Caterham or HRT achieved in their debut seasons - in fact only Virgin (Marussia) has managed to score points since joining the grid, but it took until its fifth season at the Monaco Grand Prix thanks to Jules Bianchi.

Haas has gone about their F1 introduction rather differently, striking up a technical partnership with Ferrari which not only allows the use of its power unit and drivetrain, but its wind tunnel and other facilities.

Steiner is therefore hopeful of achieving points in their debut season: "Our goal with this car is to score points," he said.

"First, we need to go out there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock. Then, we want to score points. That is the ultimate goal."

Speaking about the development of the car, which has been done in partnership with Dallara, Steiner explained that much of what they've done has been influenced by what other teams have done.

"We’re a new team, so we looked at what the successful teams were doing to give us a baseline of the direction we needed to go with our design," he added.

"We have very experienced designers who worked hard to develop all the little things from an aerodynamic perspective that, collectively, add up to a lot. And our technical partner, Ferrari, provided our power unit, and that really defined the rear end of the car and how big it needed to be."

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Video: Haas introduces VF-16, completes first lap

Watch as the Haas VF-16, the team's first ever F1 car, is launched and completes its first lap of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Romain Grosjean at the wheel.

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Mercedes engine customers will get exact same power unit

Mercedes will supply each of its engine customers with its latest power unit ahead of the 2016 season.

The team came in for some criticism when it refused to offer then customers Williams, Lotus and Force India its latest spec following a major upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix.

Mercedes insisted it was because they were exploring a new development direction and couldn't guarantee reliability, as well as the inability to produce enough parts.

However Andy Cowell, managing director of Mercedes high performance powertrains, has promised Williams, Force India and Manor will receive the very latest engine for the season opener in Australia next month.

"The upgrade that we introduced in Monza last year took a huge amount of effort from the factory at Brixworth and we only had enough resource to supply the works team with the latest spec at that time," explained Cowell.

"However, that is now paying off for every team with Mercedes power, as we’ve managed to build on that development work through the autumn and winter period.

"Now, all our customers are getting an improved package that is exactly the same specification as the works team. All eight Mercedes powered cars will have exactly the same hardware and performance potential come Melbourne – which is a good step for everyone."

Meanwhile, Mercedes isn't taking for granted the additional engine available this year following the expanded calendar from 19 to 20 races.

Last year, each driver was allocated just four units, but this season they will be allowed to use five - Cowell insists Mercedes are still aiming to get at least five races out of each unit.

"On the face of it, an increased allocation of power units would seem to give manufacturers an advantage, in that each unit is required to complete fewer races, thereby putting less pressure on the life cycle of different components.

"But the reality is that our durability targets have remained the same. Our target is to make sure that each power unit can last for at least five races, meaning that theoretically we only need to use four per driver, across the season."

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TOP GEAR SWITCH FOR BUTTON WAS ON THE CARDS

Jenson Button has admitted he came close to leaving Formula 1 in order to join the new lineup on the BBC motoring programme Top Gear in 2016.

Amid rumours the 2009 world champion was considering his future at McLaren-Honda last year, the Daily Mail newspaper claimed Button, 36, was simultaneously “in talks with the BBC”.

Button appeared this week on the BBC Radio 2 programme hosted by Chris Evans, who is Top Gear’s new main presenter.

He asked the driver: “When will we know this season as opposed to last season if you’re definitely able to host Top Gear next year?”

Button laughed: “I knew that was coming.”

Evans continued: “We were close though, weren’t we? We were so close, then McLaren said: No, we want him for another year.”

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VERSTAPPEN: I DISAGREE WITH TOST

Formula 1′ teenage star Max Verstappen is unfazed by a warning issued by his boss at Toro Rosso.

According to De Telegraaf newspaper, boss Franz Tost warned recently that Verstappen, F1’s Dutch teen sensation, and teammate Carlos Sainz must be careful in 2016 to not try to over-deliver for their second seasons on the grid.

“They cannot look beyond the limits because they were already at the limit,” Tost is quoted as saying.

When asked about Tost’s warning, Verstappen told the newspaper: “I disagree with him. You just do your best, and in that case it doesn’t matter if you’re in your first or your last season.”

Verstappen, 18, gained a reputation in 2015 as an audacious and confident overtaker, and he vowed to keep fighting just as hard this season.

“One difference,” he explained, “is that (in a second season) the others know better about what you can do and perhaps defend even harder.”

“On the other hand I now have the advantage of a year of experience in the bag. I’m really looking forward to picking up where I left and giving full throttle,” said Verstappen.

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Ferrari launches its 2016 Formula 1 car - the SF16-H

Ferrari has become the latest team to unveil its new Formula 1 car, the SF16-H, as it aims to push Mercedes to the wire in the 2016 championship.

The team opted for an online launch, with team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, technical director James Allison and drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on hand to reveal the Scuderia's new challenger.

The livery sports more white than has been seen in recent years, predominantly on the engine cover and front wing.

In terms of making the car "properly competitive", according to Allison, Ferrari has opted for changes in a number of areas.

The nose is shorter and higher, impacting positively on the aerodynamics, while after four years with a pullrod suspension, the car is now fitted with a pushrod system.

Ferrari has worked on its power unit's architecture, making it tighter and narrower, so influencing the engine cover, which again aids aero.

The engine team has also improved combustion, the turbo and air intake in a bid to find more performance.

Asked as to the car's prospects, Arrivabene said: "Normally I am not setting the objectives, my boss sets the objective for the team.

"I think this year, we need to push a bit more. We would like to fight until the end for the championship.

"I know that is not going to be easy, because our competitors are not sleeping, but we are committed to do our best."

After scoring three grand prix victories with Vettel last season, the team will be looking to push Mercedes even further this season.

Ferrari made considerable gains with its power unit in 2015 that allowed it to step out of the shadows of its winless campaign the year before.

But come the conclusion to the season, Vettel still finished 103 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings, with Mercedes 275 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

That underlined the gap Ferrari still has to bridge to Mercedes this year if it is to consider itself a realistic title contender.

Assessing Ferrari's challenge for the year ahead, Allison said: "Back in 2013, Ferrari was not at the right level, the championship, except for maybe doing pitstops.

"We've worked very hard on all of those areas. Last year was a decent step forward and we hope this car will be another good step forward to make us properly competitive.

"We have improved across the board. All our hopes are in this car, and we can't wait to see it on the track."

Just beautiful. Hoping to build on the modest gains of latter part of this past season, and I'm so looking forward to seeing if Ferrari has been able to pick up the pace a bit.

Should be a very competitive season ahead, at least I hope!

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BOTTAS COULD BE THE WINNER IN HAMILTON VERSUS ROSBERG FEUD

Valtteri Bottas should have his fingers crossed that bitter teammate warring at Mercedes continues during the 2016 Formula 1 world championship season.

That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, who thinks his fellow Finn Bottas would be the beneficiary of a driver shake-up at the title-winning team.

Toto Wolff, who is not only Mercedes’ team boss but also Williams driver Bottas’ manager, has warned that if Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg continue to bicker, he might have to consider moving one of them on.

“I hope that the Mercedes drivers continue their fight, one of them goes and Valtteri can move in,” Salo, who drove for teams including Ferrari and Sauber, told the Finnish broadcaster MTV.

“It would be a place where Valtteri will finally be able to win races,” he added.

Salo continued: “Valtteri’s problem is that he has been at Williams throughout his career, even though they have been making quite good cars.”

Before Bottas debuted the new FW38 for ‘filming’ purposes at Barcelona on Friday, Williams published the first photos of the 2016 car on the internet.

The Finnish driver declared: “We need to be able to win races, which is what we are always trying to do.”