Day one of Formula 1 testing

1. Vettel fastest, Ericsson second, Rosberg third
2. Ricciardo fourth, Bottas fifth, Sainz Jr sixth, Alonso seventh
3. Lotus missed first day after delay
4. Force India choose to skip test

Day one of pre-season testing - done. Thanks for your company - I've had a blast. Let's do it all over again tomorrow. See you back here at 08:00 GMT. Until then, it's good afternoon from me. See ya!

Force India have chosen to skip this test, to focus on development of their 2015 car, while Lotus' new challenger only arrived in Jerez late this afternoon. The team hope to run the car tomorrow, with three days still remaining of this test.

AP

There is plenty of work to do for McLaren, though, the Woking-based team managing just six laps as they begin their new era with Honda. Jenson Button will take over from Fernando Alonso tomorrow.

AP

World champions Mercedes will be pretty happy with how day one went as Nico Rosberg clocked up a mammoth 157 laps. Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for similarly good reliability tomorrow when he gets his hands on the car.

Day one results

1) Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 1:22.620 60 laps

2) Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) 1:22.777 73 laps

3) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:23.106 157 laps

4) Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:23.338 35 laps

5) Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 1:23.906 73 laps

6) Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso) 1:25.327 46 laps

7) Fernando Alonso (McLaren) 1:40.738 6 laps

Chequered flag

Sebastian Vettel finishes fastest on the first day of pre-season testing in Jerez.

McLaren's Fernando Alonsotweets: "First laps. So proud of my team. #happy." The fact he is tweeting suggests his running is done for the day.

Lotus

Lotus: The Eagle (E23) has landed...

Unfortunately, it's a bit too late for Lotus to get any running under their belt today. Pastor Maldonado was due in the car.

Carlos Sainz Jr has popped out for a late spin in the Toro Rosso while Nico Rosberg clocks up his 150th lap of the day. A remarkable effort from the Mercedes driver.

Only Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel and Marcus Ericsson are circulating at the moment, with just 20 minutes of the session remaining.

Williams

After completing 61 laps, Valtteri Bottas heads into the garage to look through the data and have a chat with his engineers.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

AP

"Fernando Alonso has still managed only six laps today and McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis and racing director Eric Boullier have been holding a news conference while the team work on trying to get their car back on track.

"Dennis has been waxing rhapsodic about the quality of design and workmanship on the new MP4-30. 'The rear bodywork of our car has been brilliantly shrink-wrapped around a fantastically advanced and incredibly compact Honda power unit,' he said. 'We've even invented a new phrase to describe its design philosophy - the size-zero F1 car.'

"Dennis indicated that he was not too worried about the car's lack of running, caused by what the team say are 'a few niggly problems'. But even allowing for this being the first day of their new partnership with Honda, six laps - to follow on from the five they managed over two days in Abu Dhabi last November - has to be something of a concern."

Sauber's Marcus Ericsson goes second fastest, just 0.087 off the pace set by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. That would suggest nothing can be read into headline lap times.

BBC

Red Bull design chief Adrian Newey tells BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Tom Clarkson: "Good first day. The car is a decent step forward, but it'll be difficult to mount a serious title challenge."

McLaren: "Ron Dennis: 'Our 2015 livery will change, but I'm not going to say when...'"

Interesting!

Go! Go! Go!

The green flag is out, which means the session is back under way. Valtteri Bottas is straight back out in the Williams, as is Marcus Ericsson's Sauber and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is not too far behind.

There's a lull in the action, as the red flag is still out. Just 50 minutes to go...

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Max Verstappen has to wait until tomorrow for his first chance to get behind the wheel of the new Toro Rosso, so the 17-year-old has instead spent the day following the action from the pits.

Red flag

Woops, commentator's curse. The red flag is out for the second time today as Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr has rolled to a halt.

Reuters

Sebastian Vettel goes even quicker, the Ferrari driver moving 0.4 seconds clear of the field with a 1:22.690. Meanwhile, the driver who he replaced, Fernando Alonso, is bottom of the timesheets having completed just six laps in the McLaren.

I can't quite believe that we're almost seven hours into testing and we've only had one red flag. Mercedes have certainly had the best day, with Williams, Toro Rosso and Sauber getting a decent number of laps on the board.

Ferrari and Red Bull have had little niggles but still got more than 30 laps under their belts.

McLaren have been less successful, with just six laps - but they're playing catch up after a disappointing run in Abu Dhabi, where they managed just five laps.

The team have put together a photo gallery of all this year's new cars, which is very much worth a look. You can find it here.

Just Marcus Ericsson on track at the moment in the Sauber with one hour and 15 minutes left of today's session. Sebastian Vettel remains fastest in the Ferrari.

It's a family-affair for Nico Rosberg, Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen today with their fathers Keke, Carlos and Jos in Jerez keeping an eye on proceedings.

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There's only one man the majority of the fans in Jerez want to see - and that's Fernando Alonso in the new McLaren. Unfortunately, the Spaniard has only managed a handful of laps.

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Valtteri Bottas has made his half century, only the second driver to do so after Mercedes' Nico Rosberg. Good stuff from the Williams team after a delayed start to their running. Sauber have done a decent job, too, clocking up 40 laps.

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While McLaren struggle, Mercedes continue to cruise along with Nico Rosberg now having completed over 120 laps. Today couldn't have gone much better for the reigning world champions.

McLaren struggle

We've not seen McLaren and Fernando Alonso for a while. The team report they are "tracking down a niggly problem - which is taking some time. Hope to be out again before the end of the day."

Get involved

Stuart Gill: Big fan of the Red Bull's livery at testing. Would be awesome if they keep it for the season!

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It's a really impressive turn out in Jerez, with grandstands packed with fans keen to see the 2015 cars in action for the first time.

Daniel Ricciardo continues clocking up the laps, the Australian - who finished an impressive third in the drivers' standings last year - moving into third place on the timesheet, 0.380 seconds off the pace set by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

BBC

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "There are signs of activity in the Lotus garage as crew members are organising tyres and the tyre trolleys."

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The Red Bull, in it's brilliant zebra-style livery, is back out on track, with Daniel Ricciardo behind the wheel. It's another excuse to show you a pic of the car.

After a lull in the action, Valtteri Bottas heads back out on track in the Williams. The Finn gets company in the form of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "The Renault engine was fired up in the Red Bull, so it looks like the team has solved or nearly solved whatever the problem was that has kept the car in the garage for so long."

Ferrari say system checks were the main items on the programme "which was altered mid-morning, to improve the radio communications between team and driver".

The team add: "The decision was therefore taken to bring forward the lunch break, so as to resume the planned programme for the afternoon."

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"There has been a great deal of discussion about Red Bull's decision to parachute Max Verstappen into F1 at the age of 17 - making him the youngest F1 driver ever by about two years - and after just one year in car racing. The decision has prompted governing body the FIA to introduce new criteria for F1 'super-licences' for drivers. These will be introduced in 2016 and among them are that the driver cannot be younger than 18 - which of course means Verstappen would not have qualified if they were in force now.

"That's a tacit admission that even the FIA has doubts about the wisdom of Red Bull's decision. Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost is dismissive of the issue, however. 'We had the same nonsense with Daniil Kvyat last year,' Tost said, 'and he drove a fantastic season and is racing for Red Bull this year. So I don't care what people are saying.' That rather misses the point, however - Kvyat was neither 17 nor did he have only a season's car racing behind him. It will be fascinating to see how Verstappen copes with the pressures of F1."

Sebastian Vettel heads back to the pits after that scorcher of a lap, leaving the track quiet with a little under three hours to go on the first day of pre-season testing.

Vettel knocks Rosberg off top spot

Sebastian Vettel goes quickest with a 1:22.999 in the Ferrari. Nico Rosberg is second, 0.1 seconds off the pace, with Valtteri Bottas' Williams eight tenths further back.

Rosberg gets his century

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez:"Nico Rosberg has now done more laps - he's heading for the century mark - than all eight drivers combined on the first day at Jerez last year."

Sauber's Marcus Ericsson: Morning session done. No problems with the car, and a positive feeling! Soon time to drive again.

PA

It's been a while, but Sebastian Vettel is back out on track and immediately down to business. The four-time champion goes third quickest, nine tenths slower than pace-setter Nico Rosberg and just a few thousandths behind Williams' Valtteri Bottas.

Delivery for McLaren

BBC

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "McLaren crew members have been unloading large items wrapped in bubble wrap, plus boxes and small crates out of a van next to the team transporters. It's obviously a shipment of the latest bodywork bits and other parts fresh from the factory in Woking."

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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"Not that a new F1 driver needs any more motivation, but Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr not only has a place to carve in the sport but also a chance to prove a point to his employers. Red Bull initially passed the Spaniard over in favour of team-mate Max Verstappen, who was only signed up into the Red Bull junior driver programme a matter of a few weeks before he was promoted to F1, and it was only when Sebastian Vettel told them he was moving to Ferrari, leaving a vacant slot at Red Bull into which Daniil Kvyat was slotted, that Sainz was finally given the call.

"That has been parked in a corner for now, though. 'There is a lot of concentration, a lot of will to go out on track, and so far the team has done a good job to prepare us for this season,' says Sainz, who is a friend of Fernando Alonso. 'Everyone is very positive which gives you a lot of good feelings. At the moment there are no nerves, just looking forward to working with them, try to do a good job and to arrive at the first race as well prepared as possible.'"

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr puts a flurry of laps together and improves to go fifth quickest, 2.2 seconds off the pace. He has Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas for company at the moment.

While most of the field are busy getting down to work for the new season, Nico Hulkenberg is taking it easy. Force India aren't in Jerez, after choosing to skip it so the German has spent the morning watching the Australian Open final.

"Great #AusOpenFinal! Congrats @DjokerNole! But respect to @andy_murray for the fighting spirit! tweeted Djokovic.

Get involved

Alex Withington: Is Rosberg going to drive all the way to Melbourne? Impressive start from Mercedes - fast and reliable.

Nico Rosberg didn't waste much time with lunch - the German is back out there, improving his lap tally to 76 for the day and remains fastest. Impressive stuff.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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"Toro Rosso have been particularly bullish, if you'll pardon the pun, about their prospects this season. The boss of Red Bull's junior team, Franz Tost, says the car is 'a strong package; we have made a lot of progress. It's the fastest car Toro Rosso has ever built'.

"Tost played down lack of experience of their all-rookie driver line-up of Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen by saying they had been 'racing for 10 years'. But he rather undermined his own argument when he added that in this test it was vital they do 'a lot of laps so the drivers can learn the car and the tyres'. The team have targeted an ambitious fifth place in the constructors' championship, which 'means the drivers have to be permanently in the points', Tost points out."

After a late start Williams are plodding along nicely with Valtteri Bottas up to fourth in the timesheets, two seconds off the pace.

Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg is loving his time in the new car so much, he's even having his lunch in it...

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Three teams unveiled their 2015 machines this morning, which means we've seen all nine cars set to contest this year's World Championship. That's not including Caterham and Marussia, who look set to miss the season. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton posed for photos, but not before taking a selfie first.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"As an illustration of how far the teams have moved on with the new turbo hybrid engines, it's interesting to compare the laps completed on this first day of 2015 testing, with the first day of testing before 2014, when the engines were brand new. Back then, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen did the most laps, with 31.

"Twelve months on and Nico Rosberg has already racked up 60 laps in the Mercedes, and there are still over four hours to go. That underlines why McLaren, whose Honda engine is brand new, are saying they don't expect to do many laps at the start of the test."

Sauber

Sauber: Encouraging morning for Sauber C34.

It's all gone quiet on track - perhaps some of the teams are grabbing a spot of lunch...

Bottas on the board

Valtteri Bottas puts Williams on the timesheets with a 1:28.479. That puts the Finn sixth, just behind Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr.

Williams

Williams: Good crowd here.... It's still pretty cold though despite the sun!

AP

Red Bull have pulled a blinder with their zebra-like testing livery. Daniel Ricciardo is currently second quickest, 1.5 seconds off the pace. His team-mate Daniil Kvyat will take the wheel tomorrow.

Williams

Williams: Valtteri remains in the car as we get ready for some more laps.

Nico Rosberg has the track to himself at the moment, the German sealing his half century of laps as the day continues to go to plan for Mercedes.

Lotus

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "The team is still building up its new car, but it is very quiet at Lotus. The garage doors at the front and back of the garage are closed, and there are no crew members going in and out of the back doors, or in and out of the transporters parked in the paddock. However, just before midday, four Lotus crew members arrived in the paddock."

Mercedes are having a very strong day so far, the world champions having clocked up more than 40 laps already. Nico Rosberg is the pace-setter, 1.5 seconds quicker than anyone else, with Daniel Ricciardo second and Marcus Ericsson third. Fernando Alonso has set a lap time in the McLaren, but it's not representative at 17 seconds off the pace.

PA

Toro Rosso are fielding an all-new line-up in 2015, with rookies Max Verstappen, 17, and Carlos Sainz Jr, 20, (pictured) taking the wheel. They have a combined age of just 37, which compares to 68 over at McLaren with veterans Fernando Alonso, 33, and Jenson Button, 35.

Get involved

Graeme Strong: Mercedes can at least claim best looking nose in F1 :-)

Williams

Williams' 2015 season is under way as Valtteri Bottas pulls out of the garage in the FW37. That means only Lotus haven't made an appearance.

Where's Lotus?

We've not seen the Lotus so far this morning. Here's why. "E23 is in the air on its way to Jerez after firing up in Enstone yesterday, arrival expected later today," tweet the team. "Inverting the wings for flight purposes took longer than expected, but the E23 is looking mighty fine."

Valtteri Bottas is suiting up which suggests it won't be long until we see the new Williams hit the track for the first time this season.

Fernando Alonso has popped out again, but it's just another installation lap for now. The team are making up lost ground after they managed just five laps with their new Honda power-unit over two days at the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"The hope up and down the pit lane - and doubtless among the millions of F1 fans around the world - is that Mercedes can be pulled back towards the chasing pack this year. But to say it was an expectation - at least within F1 - would be over-egging it. The new W06 Hybrid very much looks the part and Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe has some worrying words for the opposition. "'There is a lot of novelty on this car,' Lowe says. 'We have found performance in a number of areas. Overall it is an evolution of last year's car because the rules aren't too different, but here or there we've been able to make minor revolutions.

"'Aside from the nose, which has been one of our big topics for our winter aero programme, people looking at the car won't see enormous differences. Underneath though, there is a lot of change. We needed to achieve that because our competitors will have done the same. You only have to look at your old cars to realise how quickly things can age in F1. That's the nature of innovation and development. So you have to keep pushing in every single area - and sometimes we surprise ourselves.'"

Mercedes dominant in Jerez

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Just in case you're just waking up, Nico Rosberg and Mercedes have set an impressive pace so far on day one of pre-season testing. Red Bull are running a cool camouflage livery for testing, while we've had just one red flag when Marcus Ericsson spun. Fernando Alonso (pictured) has taken the new McLaren out for a couple of installation laps, too.

Former F1 driver Max Chilton: I have woken up feeling like something is missing, it's an F1 car in motion with the crisp morning air rushing under my visor. #stillhoping

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"McLaren chairman Ron Dennis is in Jerez to see the start of his team's relationship with Honda - the second for Dennis, who oversaw the brilliantly successful partnership between the two from 1988-92. Dennis says: 'Inevitably with a brand new car and engine partner there will be some challenges but we are ready for them and well prepared.'

"He added that the MP4-30 was the 'best-built car we have ever made. Jerez won't be representative of where we will be in Australia - we have development engines there and there will be a new aero package in Melbourne, like everyone else.'"

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Fernando Alonso has popped out for a second spin in the McLaren, but again, it's just an installation lap before heading back to the pits.

Welshracer: Someone wake @Lotus_F1Team and tell them testing is going on now.

Nico Rosberg's leading time of 1:23.106 is four seconds quicker than the fastest time set on day one of pre-season testing last year. Kimi Raikkonen ended that day quickest with a 1:27.104.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg continues to clock up the laps at Jerez, with Daniel Ricciardo and Marcus Ericsson keeping him company.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Reuters

"Shortly before the two-hour mark, the McLaren-Honda takes to the track for the first time with Fernando Alonso at the wheel. It's only a slow system-check lap before Alonso is back in the pits but it means the car is in public for the first time. The rear end looks very tightly packaged and impressive. I'm not alone, though, in thinking it might have been a good idea to ditch the silver/black livery that first made its debut in 1997 in deference to a long-gone tobacco sponsor."

Daniel Ricciardo improves to a 1:24.641, 1.5 seconds adrift of Mercedes' Nico Rosberg. Marcus Ericsson is third with Sebastian Vettel fourth and Carlos Sainz Jr fifth.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"How will McLaren do today? The team and drivers, knowing how much work is ahead, have been busy managing expectations. A hack test car managed only five laps in two days at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, as McLaren tried and failed to get its electrical systems working.

"So it is easy to see why Fernando Alonso, who will drive on this first day, is keeping expectations in check, pointing out that new engine partner Honda is in the same position as the others were last year in debuting its new turbo hybrid engine. 'It will be a very emotional day,' Alonso said. 'It is normal to have some stress before the first test - you are very curious to see how the car behaves and we know there are a lot of expectations.

"'I am very honoured to be the first one to drive the McLaren-Honda. It will not be easy because we will discover many things in the car. We are in a learning process. I remember last year how many laps all the teams did - it was not many.'"

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "There are lots of fans here to see Fernando Alonso in action, but so far he has done just one installation lap in the McLaren-Honda. The winter tests are deliberately scheduled to include one or two weekend days rather than work days so that more people can attend.

McLaren

Here's a shot of Fernando Alonso pulling out of the garage for the first time in the McLaren.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Reuters

"Sebastian Vettel is the first man to try the new Ferrari, running over both the first two days as the Italian team have given Kimi Raikkonen a bit of extra time off following the birth of his son last week. The new SF15-T looks quite similar to last year's car, but the redesigning of 2014's 'vacuum cleaner' nose has tidied up the aesthetics and the team have worked hard on tighter packaging at the rear to improve downforce.

"'The car looks beautiful,' Vettel says. 'To see how it comes together is always something special. I can't wait to go on track and see how it feels.' Vettel, who runs on Sunday and Monday before handing over to Raikkonen, continues to say that driving for Ferrari is 'special'. This writer is not alone in F1 in wondering how long the honeymoon period will last."

Nico Rosberg is currently fastest, as we approach the two-hour mark. The German is two seconds clear of Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull with Sauber's Marcus Ericsson 0.6 seconds adrift. Sebastian Vettel is fourth in the Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz Jr completing the leaderboard in fifth.

Fernando Alonso is back in the pits, having completed an installation lap. That means only Williams and Lotus have yet to head out on track.

McLaren breaks cover

Tom Clarkson

Hurrah! The new McLaren finally breaks cover! Fernando Alonso heads out.

Red Bull

Red Bull: If you see us passing by, give us a smile! #CamoBull #F1.

EPA

Williams were the first to reveal images of their 2015 car, with the Grove-based team aiming to close the gap on world champions Mercedes and score more than the nine podiums they achieved in an impressive 2014 season.

The team, running Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, finished third in the constructors' championship last year. This year, they've produced a car which looks visually similar to its predecessor but features significant changes under the skin.

The car was officially unveiled in the pit lane this morning, but we've yet to see it out on track.

McLaren's Honda-powered car has been fired up before being revved up and down. A bunch of snappers are hovering on the other side of the pit lane waiting to get their shot. Unfortunately, they'll have to wait a little longer as the engine is switched off and the car remains parked behind the screens.

AP

For those of you wondering where the always-entertaining Kamui Kobayashi will be this season after losing his drive with Caterham, I can report that he has signed up for a season in Japan's Super Formula national championship.

"Happy to back my home race after 12 years in Europe," said the Japanese driver on his Facebook page. "I would like to provide exciting driving and an amazing show on track! All races will take place in Japan so please come to Japan and let's have a real race with me!"

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Here's a shot of Sauber's Marcus Ericsson spinning, which caused the first red flag of the day...

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"It has been an impressive, and you could say ominous, start to testing from Mercedes. The silver car, clearly quite heavily revised since last year, is already pounding around Jerez like a train. And Nico Rosberg is 2.6secs clear of the next fastest man - Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull. It's early days but that does nothing to undermine Mercedes' status as strong pre-season favourites."

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg: Relaxing this morning! Watching some #grandslamtennis! great fight so far between #DjokovicvMurray

You can watch the final live along with live text commentary here.

After an early flurry of activity, only Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel are out on track. We've still yet to see the McLaren, Lotus and Williams.

Get involved

Sam: the cars look so much better with the ugly noses gone. Especially like the look of the McLaren Honda car, hope it can produce results.

Luke: Best livery is still the Williams, such a shame McLaren didn't go retro too! Merc looks tidy and even quicker.

Paul Treadaway: Toro Rosso is definitely the standout for me, although the Sauber also looks good!

Nico Rosberg believes he needs "to find a tiny step" to turn the tables on Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and beat him to the world title this season.

"I have looked at last year and analysed it and I'm trying to do even better," says Rosberg, who won five races to Hamilton's 11 but out-qualified him more often. "I need to find a tiny step and I'm sure I can do it.

"It was close and I can do it. It is one step higher and either way it is going to be a great year again."

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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"Mercedes' closest rivals last year, at least in terms of the championship, were Red Bull, whose new RB11 has been unveiled this morning. Much has been made of chief technical officer - and resident genius - Adrian Newey stepping back a bit from F1, to spend some of his time on other projects - namely Red Bull's association with Ben Ainslie's America's Cup bid and the yet-to-be-announced Red Bull road car.

"But this year's F1 car is still his baby. 'Adrian has had a bit less input,' says team principal Christian Horner, 'but he has still been very much the architect of this car. He will be at this test. He is splitting his time now around 50/50, but 50% of Adrian's time is quite significant.'"

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "There is lots of activity going on behind the screens in the McLaren pit as the team is working to get the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 out on track for the first time. And across the pit lane the photographers are waiting to snap the first photos of the car."

Go! Go! Go!

We're back under way in Jerez with Nico Rosberg improving to a 1:23.106, 2.6 seconds clear of the field.

Lotus, Williams and McLaren have yet to send a car out after just over an hour of testing. The session will run until 16:00 GMT, so there's still plenty of time left.

Red flag

We have our first red flag of the day - and having just spoken about Sauber, it's the blue and yellow car which has caused it. Marcus Ericsson has an issue in the first sector, but has since recovered to make it back to the pits. We should be back under way shortly.

Sauber

The only way is up for Sauber after a miserable 2014 season which saw the team fail to score a single point. It was their worst effort since joining the grid in 1993.

This year, the Swiss team have gone for an all-new blue and yellow livery and an all-new line-up in Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson.

"We have learned our lessons and are confident for the new season," says team boss Monisha Kalternborn. "We have to improve and be able to fight for championship points."

Get involved

Marsh-wiggle: Love waking up to a feed full of #F1 testing tweets and photos! Very clever camouflage on the Red Bull.

Get involved

So which 2015 F1 machine is the best looking? Which livery tickles your fancy? And crucially what looks the quickest? Answers on a tweet, using the #bbcf1 hashtag, or a text 81111 (UK only). If you use the latter, don't forget to put your name on the message. I thank you.

We have a few more times on the board, with Nico Rosberg going quickest with a 1:23.653 in the Mercedes, 2.1 seconds ahead of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari. Sauber's Marcus Ericsson is 1.1 seconds further back with Daniel Ricciardo two seconds adrift in the Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton on Twitter

Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a new deal with Mercedes, but when the time comes, the world champion says he'll be doing it on his own for the first time after severing ties with his management company last year.

Hamilton, whose current deal runs out at the end of 2015, says he is a "rookie" in this area: "I am 30 now. I am my own man. I know my worth.

The Briton, who hung out with Aloe Blacc during the season, adds: "I have read every one of my contracts in the past so I know what is and what can't go and what I can try to get."

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is on crutches after injuring his left knee in a gym accident during the off-season. He discarded them for the official team photo in the pit lane this morning. Wolff was also injured last July in a cycling accident with other team members, although that time it was an arm."

Red Bull have already had a more successful day than they managed this time last year. In 2014, Sebastian Vettel managed just two laps. After less than an hour of this year's first day, Daniel Ricciardo has clocked up four, including the first timed lap of the day - one minute 29.141 seconds.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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"Red Bull have thrown out the F1 rule book with a camouflage testing livery. They like to do things a bit differently - their pre-season media day was at an indoor snow slope in Milton Keynes - but this is clearly to make it harder for rivals to get a good look at their car.

"What they could not hide, though, was that the car bears a strong resemblance to last year's from the cockpit back, and that the nose combines much of last year's Ferrari, with the 'bump' on the end featured on this year's Williams. How teams have addressed the new regulations aimed at increasing front-end safety is one of the key talking points so far this season."

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Ferrari had a shocker of a season in 2014, their worst for more than 20 years. There have been a series of major senior management changes with new team principal Maurizio Arrivabene setting the target of winning "at least two races" in 2015 after launching their new car.

As mentioned, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has joined the team, hopeful of turning the Scuderia's fortunes around much like his compatriot Michael Schumacher managed to do more than a decade ago.

"There is a lot of change going on, a lot of new people in new positions," says Vettel. "It takes time to settle in, but I am confident we are going in the right direction. But it would be wrong to expect a lot of us."

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Here's the new Ferrari, in all it's glory, with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel. The German, sporting a white helmet with a German flag running along the top, is starting a new chapter in his career after leaving Red Bull, the team with which he won all four of his world titles.

Toro Rosso

After a slight delay, the new Toro Rosso leaves the garage with Carlos Sainz Jr at the wheel.

Sainz Jr, son of two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr, is making his Formula 1 debut this year.

The 20-year-old clinched the seat after winning last year's Formula Renault 3.5 series, the feeder championship won by Dane Kevin Magnussen in 2013 before he was signed by McLaren for 2014.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Getty Images

"Mercedes start the season as favourites and the car breaks cover to the world's media for the first time on Sunday morning. The car ran briefly on a snow-hit Thursday afternoon at Silverstone last week, when both drivers took to the wheel, but Nico Rosberg is the man who gets the first full day's testing in the W06 Hybrid at Jerez.

'It's a great feeling,' the German said. 'I know how much work has gone into it. The factories are buzzing, the energy, the amount of work they put it into it, it's really intense. To finally see it doing what it's meant to do is a great feeling for everybody.'"

Red Bull

Red Bull are running a camouflage testing livery in Jerez. Very cool.

McLaren's Jenson Button: Morning from rather chilly but sunny Jerez. First day of winter testing today, don't expect too much from us [at] this test as it'll be mostly system checks. She's a beauty the MP4-30! #rememberlastwinter #Longroad #massivepotential

The action is already under way in Jerez, with Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) straight out of the blocks. McLaren aren't so sprightly.

Teams are only permitted to run one car, which means half the grid will have to wait until tomorrow to get their first taste of their 2015 car.

Nico Rosberg is in action for Mercedes today, with Daniel Ricciardo driving the Red Bull. Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso), Pastor Maldonado (Lotus), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) complete the field.

McLaren

McLaren: Applying the finishing touches #FA14.

Getty Images

Just eight teams are in action in Jerez, with Force India deciding to pull out on "efficiency grounds" because of "limited learning opportunities".

The team, who launched their livery in a presentation in Mexico City earlier this month, had planned to run 2015 parts on their 2014 car, while development continued on this year's race machine.

A team spokesman denied financial issues prompted the move and refused to comment on reports that the team are allegedly late paying suppliers.

How they line-up

With Marussia and Caterham unlikely to make the grid, we'll have just nine teams and 18 drivers in action this season.

Mercedes will retain their driver line-up of world champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, with Red Bull fielding Daniel Ricciardo alongside the in-coming Daniil Kvyat.

BBC

Williams stick with Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas while Ferrari bring in four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to race alongside Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren stick with Jenson Button while Fernando Alonso makes his return to the team. Force India retain Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.

Toro Rosso field an all-new line-up of rookies Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr while Lotus retain Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean.

Sauber complete the grid with a new line-up of Marcus Ericsson and rookie Felipe Nasr.

Let's go round again

This year, the season will visit 20 different countries, across five continents. It'll start in Melbourne, Australia on 15 March and end in Abu Dhabi on 29 November.

In between, the teams will visit Malaysia, China and Bahrain before heading to Europe for Spain and Monaco.

Next they head across the pond for Canada before returning for Austria, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Italy.

Then it's time to really clock up the air miles as F1 heads for Singapore, Japan, Russia, United States, Mexico and Brazil before ending in Abu Dhabi.

It's exhausting just thinking about it.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"One of the shortest off-seasons in Formula 1 history is already over and today the nine teams who have survived the winter will begin to discover what Jenson Button describes as 'where you are going that season'. Up and down the pit lane in Jerez this morning there will be people caught in a whirl of emotions, focused on nervous anticipation.

"'It is exciting but also stressful,' says Button, 'getting the car ready for the first test and hoping it is what they think it is.' After a lot of shuffling throughout the grid, including two multiple world champions moving teams, this first test is as fascinating as it has been for years, even if inevitably only hints of the season to come may be revealed over the next four days. Button, for his part, will get his first taste of the McLaren on Monday after watching Fernando Alonso test on Sunday."

It's selfie-time

Mercedes

Is this the first F1 driver selfie of 2015? Title rivals and team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are all smiles after they pulled off the covers on the new Mercedes which they hope will guide them to the world title.

Mercedes

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "The sun had not even peeked over the hills - sunrise in Jerez was at 08:26 - when Mercedes unveiled their 2015 car in the pit lane.

"Williams drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas pulled the cover off the new Williams a few minutes later. Nico Rosberg, who is driving today, is certainly in a good mood. He was smiling broadly and waved and said hello to the assembled media waiting to see the new Mercedes.

"The air temperature is 3.4C and track is 3.3C, but clear skies, and not windy like yesterday."

BBC

Morning everybody and welcome to our live text coverage of the first day of pre-season testing for the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship.

Jerez, home of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and its dancing horses, is our host for the first of three four-day test sessions.

Testing, as the name suggests, is an opportunity for teams to run their new shiny machines for the first time to iron out the creases so that when they arrive in Melbourne in March for the first race, they're as best prepared as they can be.

The wait is almost over.

Sixty nine days after Lewis Hamilton clinched the world title, Formula 1 is preparing to kick back into gear.

The new cars have been designed and manufactured - well mostly, anyway - and the drivers, many of which are in new surroundings - are raring to go.

So I suggest you sit back, buckle up and prepare yourself for another season, because this one has all the hallmarks of another classic.