F1: Mercedes to launch at first test

Mercedes will launch its 2015 Formula 1 car on the first day of pre-season testing at Jerez on Feb. 1, the team has announced.

The 2014 double championship-winning team's F1 W06 Hybrid will break cover just before the track action commences in Spain, with Nico Rosberg driving the car on the first day. Rosberg will hand over to world champion Lewis Hamilton for day two, before getting back in the car on day three and leaving Hamilton to drive again on day four.

"Where last year we were preparing for an all-new formula of racing, we are now faced with the big challenge of making the next step in our development," noted Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff. "We know that we went into the winter with a target on our backs from the other teams, and we are certain that our rivals will be competitive from the opening race in Melbourne. So we have to focus on every detail if we want to build any advantage this year and that is what we have done.

"The workload this winter has been as great as ever – this is an exciting time of year as our collective efforts all come together in the new car. Everybody in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has put a great amount of effort into creating the latest Silver Arrow and I thank them for their efforts so far. We are excited to see how the car performs when it begins running."

Originally on Autosport.com