Mercedes GP unveiled their new MGP W01 car in Valencia prior to the commencement of pre-season testing on Monday.
W01 chassis launched in Valencia
World Champions Mercedes GP unveiled their new MGP W01 car in Valencia prior to the commencement of pre-season testing on Monday.
The team's new challenger, which will be raced by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, features the 'Silver Arrow' livery that the team unveiled at Mercedes-Benz's museum in Stuttgart last week.
The design features an unusual version of the 'V-nose' trend started by Red Bull last season - the Mercedes' nose being extremely slim and also having a dip in the middle.
The chassis also sports a dorsal fin engine cover, albeit a much smaller one than that seen on cars launched by rivals in recent days.
Rosberg was the first of their drivers to try out the new car on Monday morning, with Schumacher to take over in the afternoon.
Massa back
He was joined in the group test, held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit and scheduled to last for three days, by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who was making his first appearance in a competitive F1 car for six months.
The Brazilian, whose 2009 season was curtailed by an accident during qualifying for July's Hungarian Grand Prix, has only been able to test older cars so far during his recovery owing to F1's testing restrictions.
Also on track on Monday are McLaren test driver Gary Paffett, Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa, Robert Kubica in his Renault, Rubens Barrichello for Williams and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi.
None of the four completely new teams are attending the test, with Virgin Racing due to unveil their new car online on Wednesday and Lotus launching theirs on February 12.
Spanish-based Campos Meta have yet to announce a driver to partner Bruno Senna while the North Carolina-based USF1 team plan to carry out their first tests in Alabama.
Red Bull, runners-up to Mercedes - then Brawn - GP last year, are also missing the opening test to give themselves more time to develop their car as are Force India.
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