Image source, 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.

Image source, 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.

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

Image source, 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.

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., external "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.'"

Image source, Getty Images

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:, external 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.'"

Image source, Getty Images

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:, external 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

Image source, 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.