Teams' pre-season plans starting to take shape

With five weeks until the first official winter test, F1 teams' plans are starting to take shape. Williams said at the weekend that it will roll out its new Mercedes-powered challenger on the opening morning of the February 22 test at Barcelona. "There will be no glamorous unveiling," said chief engineer Rob Smedley.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is making subtler hints about its launch plans, revealing an online competition for social media so fans can "get a front row seat for the live streaming launch" of the new car. A date for the event has not been revealed.

The new Ferrari-linked Haas team's boss Gunther Steiner told Sky recently that it will not have a formal launch at all. "(We will launch) in Barcelona," he said. "We have no spare time to do anything before so we will roll it out hopefully the day before the testing starts on the Sunday."

The other Ferrari-powered team, however, appears slightly behind schedule, with reports that Sauber will not run its new car until the second Barcelona test. On the other hand, there are reports that Red Bull is "ahead of schedule" with its plans for 2016, and that Manor's new chassis has passed the FIA crash tests.

McLaren, meanwhile, on Monday became the first team to set a concrete launch date. "Feeling blue? Seeing red?" the British team declared on Twitter. "You can ALL see the MP4-31 launch on Feb 21!" (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Im surprised that Red Bull is ahead of schedule, seeing as they waited until the very last moment to finalize an engine deal. Will be interesting to see where they'll end up on the grid.

    • + 0
    • Jan 19 2016 - 11:01

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar