After spending two days at Mercedes F1 HQ in Brackley and visiting its engine division in Brixworth, Michael Schumacher admits being highly impressed.

With all 2010 pre-season testing set to take place in February and only in Spain, Bahrain's Grand Prix circuit has revealed that it is ready to step in should weather conditions force the cancellation of sessions, with several teams having attended the Sakhir track in the European winters of recent years.

Although several edited photographs in sports newspapers may have already presented Fernando Alonso in the legendary scarlet shade of Ferrari, the Spaniard will officially represent the squad for the first time on Monday as he attends the Italian team's annual skiing get-together at the resort of Madonna di Campiglio.                 

McLaren should have had a golden year financially in 2008. having won the world championship with Lewis Hamilton. However, the company's bottom line crashed 40.6% giving the group an after-tax loss of £44m.

Organizers at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) are in talks with a number of F1 teams with a view to hosting a pre-season test.