LONDON, England - Nine weeks after the 2014 finale in Abu Dhabi, Formula 1 is counting down the days before the resumption of track action in February 2015.
The lull will soon be replaced by a spate of car unveilings and the sound of F1, as the first official test of the 2015 season begins at Jerez on Feb 1.
Williams and Force India have already revealed new car designs and Lotus has shown images of its newly Mercedes-powered E23, sporting a more conventional front solution after the double-pronged nose of its uncompetitive predecessor.
'HUGE STEP FORWARD'
CEO Matthew Carters said: "Improvements within our design, aero and simulation departments have all contributed to the development of a car which is a huge step forward."
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims that Lotus will have to make do with the 2014 version of Mercedes' turbo V6 engine for the Jerez test.
The publication said another Mercedes customer, Force India, will follow the same strategy, with only the works team and its most competitive customer Williams to run the German marque's 2015 specification at the first test.
Ferrari, meanwhile, finally announced the official name of its 2015 car, which until now was only referred to by its internal project code, 666. The new red single seater, to be revealed on Jan 30, will be called SF15-T.
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