Although it has yet to announce a launch date, Ferrari says that its 2012 contender will be ready for the first test of the year.

With the first test of 2012 due to get underway at Jerez on February 7, Mercedes has already admitted that its new challenger will not be available until the second test (Barcelona) two weeks later.

However, speaking to Autosprint, Ferrari communications boss Luca Colajanni said the Maranello outfit's car will be ready for the first test.

"The new Ferrari F1 car will be presented in early February, in time to take part in the first test session ahead of the season," he said.

In reaction to recent claims that the Italian team is aiming for a radically different car he added: "It's not important to say whether the new project is going to be extreme. For sure, it will be a clean break with the past, a very different program, because it aims to win and it marks a change of mentality by the team."

New rules for 2012 whereby cars can only be run in tests after passing the FIA's mandatory crash tests, mean that teams have to choose between developing the car in the factory and missing out on track time or signing off the car early in order to get maximum time on track.