McLaren unveiled its 2012 contender, the MP4-27, at its Woking HQ this morning, 2011 championship runner-up Jenson Button describing the car as beautiful.

McLaren became the first front-running team to reveal their 2012 challenger on Wednesday, as the wraps came of the new MP4-27 at the team's UK factory in Woking. With it, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton hope to land McLaren their first constructors' crown since 1998. Unlike the 2012 Caterham launched last week, McLaren have avoided a stepped-nose design by making the whole front end of the chassis lower. “This is a beautiful car,” commented Button

McLaren’s drivers have removed the covers from the new MP4-27. The launch presentation took place at the team’s Woking factory on Wednesday morning, hosted by Sky television commentator David Croft. The 2012 car features a selection of fresh features, not least a tighter rear end and larger rear wing to make up for the lost downforce now that exhaust-blown diffusers are banned.

Rebellion Racing has confirmed that Nick Heidfeld will be contesting this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours in a Lola-Toyota LMP1 car, as originally reported last week. Now part of the FIA Endurance Championship, the former F1 driver will also contest the Sebring 12 Hours and Spa 6 Hours, sharing his car with Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost.

Felipe Massa will be the first driver to test the new Ferrari, which is to be launched on Friday. Winter running will commence in Jerez on Tuesday, with team-mate Fernando Alonso taking over two days later.

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will unveil the new McLaren-Mercedes MP4-27 on Wednesday morning. The presentation will be held at the team’s Woking factory and broadcast live through its website. The car is expected to sport several noticeable features which could trigger questions from other teams.

The newly-named Lotus F1 team (formerly Renault) has made several personnel changes ahead of the 2012 season. This sees Patrick Louis receive a promotion, moving up from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer. At the same time, Thomas Mayer takes up the role of Chief Operating Officer. The changes are made in an attempt to be challenging again for world titles in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Lotus F1 has announced a couple of changes aimed at strengthening its management team.

A profile of Williams's Brazilian driver.

Adrian Sutil has acknowledged that his Formula 1 career could be over, having been handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence and a fine of 200,000 euros (£165,000) on Tuesday. This follows a nightclub clash in April 2011 after which Eric Lux (CEO of Genii Capital, co-owner of the Lotus F1 team) required 24 stitches.