20/02/2016
NEWS STORY
After months of comparative inactivity, F1 roars back to life on Monday when the opening pre-season test gets underway at the Circuit de Catalunya.
As if the thought of 11 (yes eleven) teams taking to the track wasn't enough, a number of teams are kicking off proceedings by unveiling their cars for the first time also, on what should be a hectic morning.
Having been in action at Silverstone yesterday, for promotional purposes, don't you know, Mercedes will unveil the W07 before Lewis Hamilton begins work on defending his title. Nico Rosberg takes over on Tuesday, with the pair alternating over the two final days.
Seeking to "take the championship fight to the end", Ferrari, which unveiled the SF16-H yesterday, will have Sebastian Vettel on duty for the first two days before Kimi Raikkonen steps in for the final two.
Williams, which took to social media to give fans their first glimpse of the FW38 yesterday, is following Ferrari's example of stability, with Valtteri Bottas in action for the opening two days and Felipe Massa concluding events on Wednesday and Thursday.
The same goes at Red Bull, where Daniel Ricciardo will enjoy two days at the wheel of the RB12 before Daniil Kvyat gets the pleasure. Having revealed its new livery in London on Wednesday, now fans will finally get to see the Tag-Heuer (Renault) powered car.
For reasons best known to itself, Force India is bookending its first test with development driver Alfonso Celis at the wheel, Sergio Perez (Tuesday) and Nico Hulkenberg (Wednesday) getting just one day apiece in the VJM09, which will be unveiled on Monday morning.
The livery and car unveiled by Renault earlier this month are both thought to be temporary, the Enstone team having opted for a 'show car' for the Paris event. However, there will hopefully be nothing temporary when Jolyon Palmer gets hold of the RS16 for the opening two days of the test before handing the keys to teammate Kevin Magnussen.
Talking of temporary, Toro Rosso will be running a 'temporary' livery in Barcelona, where Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen will alternate in the STR10, the Spanish youngster kicking things off on Monday.
As previously reported, Sauber will not run its 2016 car at the opening test, and will instead run the 2015 C34, with Marcus Ericsson in action on Monday and Tuesday and Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr - to give him his full name - in action on Wednesday and Thursday.
With McLaren unveiling its car on Sunday, Fernando Alonso will hopefully not be wishing he was anywhere else when he takes over testing duties on Tuesday, Jenson Button having 'enjoyed' his first taste of the MP4-31 on Monday. The Briton is back in the car on Wednesday before handing over to Alonso again.
The much anticipated Manor-Mercedes MRT will be given over to Pascal Wehrlein for the first two days of the test, with teammate Rio Haryanto getting his first taste of it on Wednesday and continuing into Thursday.
Finally, as Haas makes its debut, thereby putting the United States back on the grid - if only in terms of constructors - Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez will alternate in the car, with the Frenchman getting things underway on Monday.
| Team | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thur |
| Mercedes | Hamilton | Rosberg | Hamilton | Rosberg |
| Ferrari | Vettel | Vettel | Raikkonen | Raikkonen |
| Williams | Bottas | Bottas | Massa | Massa |
| Red Bull | Ricciardo | Ricciardo | Kvyat | Kvyat |
| Force India | Celis | Perez | Hulkenberg | Celis |
| Renault | Palmer | Palmer | Magnussen | Magnussen |
| Toro Rosso | Sainz | Verstappen | Sainz | Verstappen |
| Sauber | Ericsson | Ericsson | Nasr | Nasr |
| McLaren | Button | Alonso | Button | Alonso |
| Manor | Wehrlein | Wehrlein | Haryanto | Haryanto |
| Haas | Grosjean | Gutierrez | Grosjean | Gutierrez |