Gallery: F1 2016 – The Contenders

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 12^th-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