Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, EPA

“Red Bull’s technical chiefs have been talking about the progress made over the winter. Chief technical officer Adrian Newey said he was ‘not allowed to refer to who makes the power-unit nowadays’, but believed that Renault - who Red Bull have had to stick with, albeit with the engine badged for a sponsor - were ‘on a good course now. 

"They have had a good winter. It is a big deficit to make up but they are on a good path and I have confidence they will slowly close the gap.’ 

"As for the car, Newey said: ‘Third year car under a pretty restrictive set of regulations so there is no big step forwards. The guys have done a good job of tidying things up. Last year we made some mistakes in the direction we took and it was  a good learning curve for us, which led to the Silverstone period developments. We have kept developing the car and have gone further down that route.’”

Lewis Hamilton is closing on 100 laps for the day, with two-and-a-half hours to go. Romain Grosjean has completed the fewest amount of laps, Haas' running having been hampered by front wing dropping off this morning.

Jason, I applaud your efforts. This confirming that often-asked question - do bad football kits make good liveries?

1. Sebastian Vettel  (Ferrari) 1:24.939

2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:25.409

3. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:26.044

4. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 1:26.091

5. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) 1:27.180

6. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1:27.691

7. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) 1:28.134

8.  Romain Grosjean (Haas) 1:28.399

9. Alfonso Celis (Force India) 1:29.406

10. Jolyon Palmer (Renault) 1:31.351

11. Pascal Wehrlein (Manor) 1:33.455

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Get

“Compared to last year, McLaren have had an encouraging first day so far but then that’s not saying so much given how horrendous their experience was in testing last year. 

"Jenson Button has done 30-odd laps but it is noticeable that he is nearly three seconds off the pace - as much as was normal last year. 

"Racing director Eric Boullier refused to comment on the progress Honda had made with its engine, but of the car he said: ‘The first data we have gathered on the car are looking as though the numbers on the car is correlating, so that’s good. That means we know the car is better than last year.’”

Jolyon Palmer didn't get out much in the morning, completing just 16 laps but he is out on the circuit now.

Could be an interesting year for the Briton, given that he hasn't raced competitively since 2014. Will there be a bit of rustiness in the early stages of the season?

F1 journalist Dan Knutson: "The fan turnout is pretty sparse today. No doubt more people will show up on Tuesday because Fernando Alonso will be in the McLaren. However, as both test sessions run Monday through Thursday, most people who would come to the track on the weekends are working."

Lewis Hamilton is seriously putting the Mercedes through its paces, 79 laps and counting so far. 

He is still behind Sebastian Vettel on the timesheet, with the Ferrari having just ventured out onto the circuit.

What. A. Beauty...

Carlos Sainz has got plenty of laps under his belt today.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo is up to third in the sleek Red Bull after a 1:26.044 on his latest lap. He only has Lewis Hamilton for company at the moment, with the current world champion piling on the laps, but not improving on the 1:25.409 he set in the morning.

Image source, Get

Jenson Button is out for the first time this afternoon in the McLaren. It is a moody looking beast, but Button was certainly feeling optimistic that good times could be around the corner for the team have a torrid 2015.

"I’m not about to make any over-optimistic predictions – Formula 1 is far too unpredictable for me to do that," he said.

"However, from what I’ve seen so far, the aero detailing on the car looks fantastic."

Daniel Ricciardo heads back into the pits, but a flash of red then blue head out as Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari and Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso enter the circuit.

Lots of chat coming out what car you think was the best looking in Formula 1 history. Going to try something a bit adventurous here, but if you are feeling creative, I'd love to see what you think the perfect F1 car should look like. If you are up for it, tweet a picture to #bbcf1,, external or just colour in using this template below.

Image source, .

Daniel Ricciardo improves on his best from the morning with a 1:26.415, not enough to move him from fourth on the timesheet, though. 

Lewis Hamilton heads out to join him.

Romain Grosjean is hopeful of heading out for the afternoon, despite losing the front wing on his Haas this morning.

Meanwhile, only Daniel Ricciardo has ventured out onto the circuit since the track went green after lunch.