After an 84-day lay-off, Formula 1 returned to action this morning with the first of two four-day tests at the Circuit de Catalunya, home of the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991.
It’s the first time we’ve seen Grand Prix cars in action since the flag fell on the 2015 season in Abu Dhabi back in November. And it’s given race fans a sneak preview of what the 11 teams’ 2016 challengers will look like come the opening GP in Australia on March 20.
With just eight days (Feb 22-25 and March 1-4) for the teams to get themselves in shape for the record-breaking 21-race calendar, pre-season testing is vitally important. Gone are the days of unlimited running ahead of the first race and on virtually every day in between, so every minute on track counts, particularly for the three new recruits, Jolyon Palmer, Rio Haryanto and Pascal Wehrlein and F1’s newest team, Haas.
Here, then, is our visual guide to the grid, in 2015 constructors’ championship order, plus Haas.
MERCEDES
Car
Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid
Engine
Mercedes PU106C Hybrid
Drivers
44: Lewis Hamilton (GB)
6: Nico Rosberg (D)
2015 form: 16 wins, 18 pole positions, 13 fastest laps
FERRARI
Car
Ferrari SF16-H
Engine
Ferrari 059/5
Drivers
5: Sebastian Vettel (D)
7: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
2015 form: 3 wins, 1 pole, 3 fastest laps
WILLIAMS
Car
Williams FW38
Engine
Mercedes PU106C Hybrid
Drivers
19: Felipe Massa (BR)
77: Valtteri Bottas (FIN)
2015 form: 4 podium finishes
RED BULL
Car
Red Bull RB12
Engine
TAG Heuer RB12 (Renault)
Drivers
3: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
26: Daniil Kvyat (RUS)
2015 form: 3 podium finishes, 3 fastest laps
FORCE INDIA
Car
Force India VJM09
Engine
Mercedes PU106C Hybrid
Drivers
27: Nico Hulkenberg (D)
11: Sergio Perez (MEX)
2015 form: 1 podium finish
RENAULT
Car
Renault RS16
Engine
Renault RE16
Drivers
20: Kevin Magnussen (DK)
30: Jolyon Palmer (GB)
2015 form: 1 podium finish (as Lotus)
TORO ROSSO
Car
Toro Rosso STR11
Engine
Ferrari 059/4
Drivers
33: Max Verstappen (NL)
55: Carlos Sainz (E)
2015 form: 2 fourth-place finishes
SAUBER
Car
Sauber C35
Engine
Ferrari 059/5
Drivers
9: Marcus Ericsson (S)
12: Felipe Nasr (BR)
2015 form: 1 fifth-place finish
McLAREN
Car
McLaren MP4-31
Engine
Honda RA616H
Drivers
14: Fernando Alonso (E)
22: Jenson Button (GB)
2015 form: 1 fifth-place finish
MANOR
Car
Manor MRT05
Engine
Mercedes PU106C Hybrid
Drivers
94: Pascal Wehrlein (D)
88: Rio Haryanto (RI)
2015 form: Two 12th-placed finishes
HAAS
Car
Haas VF-16
Engine
Ferrari 059/5
Drivers
8: Romain Grosjean (F)
21: Esteban Gutierrez (MEX)
2015 form: N/A
Images courtesy of LAT and the teams
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