F1: New McLaren passes crash tests

McLaren has become the first Formula 1 team to announce that its 2015 car has passed all the FIA's mandatory crash tests.

The team, which reunites with Honda for next season, has yet to reveal a launch date for its new design. Pre-season testing begins at Jerez on Feb. 1. The early confirmation that McLaren has completed the crash tests is in contrast to the team's 2014 car, which did not get through the process until a week before pre-season testing began, having faced a race against time to get approval to take to the track.

In recent years F1 regulations have been tightened to ensure that cars pass crash tests before taking to the track at all, rather than just having to do complete the tests before the opening grand prix.

McLaren finalized its 2015 driver lineup earlier this week when it re-signed Jenson Button and finally announced the return of Fernando Alonso.