GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Waiting in the wings - teams prepare to launch 2011 cars

Waiting in the wings - teams prepare to launch 2011 cars

With March’s season-opener just over six weeks away and the first official test of the year set to kick off in just over seven days' time, the teams are closeted in their factories, putting the finishing touches to their 2011 cars. For Formula One fans, it’s been a long winter of waiting, but this week they’ll be shaken out of their misery as the teams finally start to break cover and unveil their new challengers.

With just four pre-season tests at their disposal, most teams follow the maxim that the earlier you start on-track development the better. That’s certainly the thinking at Ferrari, as the Italian team will be the first to launch their new car. They will take the wraps off the as-yet unnamed machine this Friday at their Maranello factory. Drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will both attend.

Next up are BMW Sauber and Renault, who will unveil their 2011 cars at Spain’s Valencia track on January 31, the day before the first official test of the year begins. Although both have chosen to forgo the traditional factory launch, team management and drivers will be present. Renault have already provided a sneak peak of their new black and gold livery, inspired by backers Group Lotus.

The following day the launch season will accelerate, with five teams all expected to showcase their new charges as the test finally gets underway on February 1. Reigning world champions Red Bull plus Mercedes GP, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Williams (with a car in interim livery) will all debut their new cars at the Spanish track.

Next in line are McLaren. Opting to delay the launch of the MP4-26 until their drivers have carried out some tyre testing with the known set-up of its predecessor, the British team will unveil their 2011 car at a special event, hosted by sponsor Vodafone, in Berlin on February 4. It will then be transported from Germany to Spain ahead of its track debut at Jerez during the second official test from February 10-13.

Virgin, meanwhile, are to wait until February 7 to take the wraps off the MVR-02 at a special event in London. The digitally-designed car, which will be driven by Timo Glock and Jerome D’Ambrosio in 2011, is then expected to take its first spin around a track a few days later at the Jerez test.

HRT and Force India are yet to announce any firm plans, although news is expected soon.

Current launch line-up at a glance:

January 28 - Ferrari, Maranello, Italy

January 31 - Sauber/Renault, Valencia, Spain

February 1 - Mercedes GP/Red Bull/Williams/Toro Rosso/Lotus, Valencia, Spain

February 4 - McLaren, Berlin, Germany

February 7 - Virgin, London, UK

Make sure to stay in touch with Formula1.com over the coming weeks for the latest news and pictures of all the 2011 cars.

Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)