Jerez Test: Day 1

The 2014 season finally got the green light today as the first pre-season test in Jerez commenced this morning. With Force India, Mercedes and reigning champions Red Bull unveiling their 2014 challengers in the minutes leading up to the start of the session, the pit-lane was a hive of activity from early on in the morning. Unfortunately from a spectator perspective, running was limited today as teams are still adding the finishing touches to their machinery. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was the first man out onto the track in the morning, yet suffered a front wing failure midway through the day which sent him heavily into the barriers. That was the end of Mercedes' running. Kimi Raikkonen finished at the top of the frankly redundant timesheet.

Check out the Sky Sports F1 photo gallery

Toro Rosso STR9 Unveiling

As excitement for the first test grows with the hours ticking down until the first green light of 2014, Toro Rosso became the first team to unveil their new machinery in Jerez, revealing the STR9. Again, it is a story of hideous nose designs, with this one standing out as being particularly aesthetically concerning. Jean Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat will have to develop keen spacial awareness to avoid damaging the outstretched tip of the front wing. Its certainly not a 'looker', but Toro Rosso will hope the STR9 can be a step forward from a innocuous campaign.

Toro Rosso have the most radical nose design yet, but will it point them to glory?

Check out Sky Sports F1's gallery picturing Toro Rosso's 2014 challenger. 

Sauber C33 Unveiling

The third team to officially launch their 2014 challenger is Sauber, who unveiled their C33 this afternoon. The new machinery looks similar to its predecessor through the untrained eye, due to an almost identical livery being maintained by the team, but 2014 is a season of change. Sauber have adopted the same front wing design as McLaren and the same rear wing support pillar as Ferrari. The best looking car released so far? Sauber have a strong case...

The Sauber C33 features the same livery as its predecessor, but don't let that fool you...
(c) Sauber F1 Team

Ferrari F14 T Unveiling

Ferrari became only the second team to complete an online launch this season, as Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen took the wraps off of the latest product of Maranello yesterday afternoon. The F14T was named by the fans yet has split the community in two, with some suggesting that it is the best looking car to be unveiled so far, while others feel that its unbalanced look negatively impacts from an aesthetic standpoint. However, if it is quick when it hits the tarmac, Ferrari fans will quickly forget any aesthetic downsides.

The F14T features a more conventional nose - at least in terms of this season so far
(c) Ferrari

Lotus E22 Render Released

Lotus fans were disappointed when their team stated that they would not be attending the first pre-season test in Jerez and consequently delaying the launch of their 2014 challenger. The team who were the first to unveil their 2013 car were looking to spend more time developing the package at Enstone. However, in conjunction with the corporate launch season, Lotus have released three renderings of their new car and it has certainly sparked some discussion.

The images released are merely a concept, but the Lotus E22's odd design is certainly sparking debate
(c) Lotus F1 Team

McLaren MP4-29 Unveiling

Sleek, silver and shocking, the new McLaren MP4-29 has certainly divided opinion. The car features the most radical nose design yet - the 'anteater' extension which was noticeable on the Williams is supported by two vertical spars on either side. It is certainly a peculiar design which will take some getting used to. Meanwhile, the main talking point of the day was Martin Whitmarsh's absence from the launch, with McLaren Managing Director, Jonathan Neale, taking the reigns. With Eric Boullier turning his back on Lotus this morning, it seems as though he could be on his way to McLaren. Coincidences are decidedly rare in Formula One...

The MP4-29 features one of the most radical nose designs we are likely to see
(c) McLaren Mercedes

Williams FW36 Unveiling

The first of several articles this evening is an analysis of yesterday's main event - The online reveal of the FW36, which answered many of the questions still remaining after Force India's canny launch. The FW36 features the anticipated nose structure, in compliance with the lower chassis height requirements this season, which seems to have been dubbed the 'anteater nose,' . Meanwhile, the images show a rather peculiar rear wing structure which is certainly not what was expected.

The Williams FW36, featuring the aesthetically questionable 'anteater' nose.
(c) Williams F1 Team