Formula One world champions Mercedes will be absent from a pre-season wet tyre test organised by Pirelli in southern France this month and attended by the sport's three other engine manufacturers. The Italian tyre manufacturer said on Monday that only Ferrari, Renault-powered Red Bull and Honda's partners McLaren would take part in the two day test at Le Castellet on Jan 25-26. Run with last year's cars, the limited mileage test will be controlled by Pirelli and monitored closely by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).
David Coulthard relishes 'exciting new era for Formula One' as former driver is confirmed for Channel 4 presenting role
McLaren stalwart Tyler Alexander dies aged 75 as group head Ron Dennis describes him as 'one of the first pillars of our company'
Lewis Hamilton getting head start on the competition as Mercedes star gears up for new F1 season with gym session
Lewis Hamilton finds it 'Easy' on the piano as F1 world champion performs Commodores' hit with pop star Rita Ora
F1 has become 'predictable'... the rules need changing or Mercedes' dominance will continue, warns Christian Horner
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff: We have to let Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fight to stop F1 being too boring... but not split team
Bernie Ecclestone reveals German Grand Prix could make a comeback if an agreement is reached with track owners
Eddie Jordan describes BBC's decision to allow Channel 4 to take Formula One rights as of next season as 'utterly devastating'
Lotus pay off debts to bring High Court insolvency proceedings against them to an end ahead of Renault take over
Formula One calender should not be extended any further, says Jenson Button ahead of record-breaking 21 race campaign
Mercedes are too far ahead! Daniel Ricciardo admits Red Bull and Ferrari face struggle to catch Lewis Hamilton and Co
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Lewis Hamilton jets around the globe, followed by Daniel 'Spinz' Forrest... but who is man in control of the world champion's...
Alonso suffers engine problem in Jerez as McLaren's pre-season testing is interrupted
McLaren's running on the third day of pre-season testing stopped just before lunch because of a problem with Fernando Alonso's Honda engine. Testing can be an event for sitting around drinking coffee and the like. And McLaren's drivers have had more time to do that than they would care for this week.
Hamilton enjoys white Christmas as world champion goes snowboarding in Canada
Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a white Christmas in Canada as he hit the slopes for some snowboarding. The F1 world champion was wrapped up warm as he went snowboarding with some of his friends, including American racing driver Ken Block. The 29-year-old shared a selection of pictures on Instagram of him having fun in Canada.
Red Bull trophies theft: About 20 of F1 team's prizes stolen in ram raid from Milton Keynes base found in lake near Sandhurst
Some of the trophies stolen from Formula One team Red Bull's factory have been found dumped in a lake, it has been revealed. More than 60 trophies were stolen after a gang of six men used a vehicle to ram the front entrance of the team's building in Milton Keynes at around 1.30am on December 6. Thames Valley Police said that around 20 of the prizes were recovered from Horseshoe Lake near Sandhurst Monday after being spotted by a member of the public.
RACE REPORTS
- ABU DHABI: Rosberg secures hat-trick of wins to end the season Mercedes eased to third straight one-two as Ferrari's Raikkonen completed podium
- BRAZIL: Rosberg wins from pole as Hamilton's wait for a victory at Interlagos goes on Nico Rosberg held off a late attack from team-mate Lewis Hamilton to win in Sao Paulo
- MEXICO: Rosberg bounces back to hold off Hamilton with supreme drive as Mercedes secure one-two German bounces back from failed world title bid with first win in nine
- UNITED STATES: Hamilton storms to third world title after dramatic win at Austin Snatched victory from Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg with Sebastian Vettel in third
- RUSSIA: Hamilton homes in on third world crown after Rosberg retirement Late Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas collision also hands Mercedes constructors' title in Sochi
- JAPAN: Hamilton matches Senna's 41 grand prix wins Lewis Hamilton passed Nico Rosberg at start before cruising home to Suzuka victory in Mercedes one-two
- SINGAPORE: Vettel back on top step of podium with Ferrari as Hamilton suffers DNF Eventful race at Marina Bay also saw safety car deployed after fan invaded track
- ITALY: Rosberg's title hopes up in smoke as Hamilton storms to victory in Monza Mercedes survive tyre pressure investigation as Hamilton continues stroll towards third title
- BELGIUM: Hamilton dominates at Spa to extend title lead Drama late on in race saw Sebastian Vettel's right rear tyre on Ferrari explode at 200mph, costing him podium
- HUNGARY: Vettel stuns Mercedes to take surprise win for Ferrari Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg off podium for first time in 2015 after Hungaroring thriller
- BRITAIN: Hamilton wins at Silverstone after masterful drive in challenging conditions Lewis Hamilton saw off a spirited Nico Rosberg challenge to claim home victory at Silverstone
- AUSTRIA: Rosberg wins battle against Hamilton to seal victory but Alonso and Raikkonen crash takes gloss off race Nico Rosberg took third win in four races
- CANADA: Hamilton bounces back from Monaco disappointment to win in Montreal Lewis Hamilton won his fourth Canadian Grand Prix
- MONACO: Mercedes blunder costs Hamilton as rival Rosberg wins Lewis Hamilton lost the Monaco Grand Prix in extraordinary circumstances
- SPAIN: Rosberg wins ahead of Hamilton The title fight is not over. The whoops of delight from Nico Rosberg told us as much at the end of the Spanish GP
- BAHRAIN: Hamilton extends lead in title race after holding off late Raikkonen challenge Victory continued the world champion's streak
- CHINA: Hamilton wins ahead of Rosberg and Vettel to extend title lead Lewis Hamilton drove flawlessly on the track where he has known great success
- MALAYSIA: Vettel strikes back as Ferrari star wins with Hamilton left venting fury at team Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari, comfortably won the Malaysian GP
- AUSTRALIA: Hamilton storms to victory as world champion leaves Rosberg trailing in season opener Lewis Hamilton won in Melbourne
- F1 POINTS TABLE Lewis Hamilton is bidding to become the first British driver to retain his F1 world title. Click here to see the table as it stands
GRAND PRIX MEMORIES
- INTERLAGOS: Hamilton and Button land maiden world titles, while Fisichella stuns to takes bizarre victory Sportsmail looks at famous title showdowns and drama packed GPs
- SUZUKA: Senna and Prost collide (twice) while Hill finally lands world title A scene of many F1 title showdowns, Sportsmail looks back at the best Suzuka moments
- MARINA BAY: Piquet and Renault embroil in 'crashgate' and boo boys get to Vettel The first F1 night race has seen its share of action as we look at our favourite pictures
- MONZA: Vettel claims first ever win while Hakkinen is reduced to tears after spinning out F1's ultimate speed demon circuit has had its memorable moments as we look at the finest
- SPA: Schumacher makes debut, as well as Hakkinen's finest pass The Belgian Grand Prix remains a fan favourite as Sportsmail looks into the picture archives for its best moments
- HUNGARORING: Button grabs first grand prix win and Hill stars for underdog Arrows Sportsmail looks back at the best of the action from over the years at Budapest.
- SILVERSTONE: Mansell gives Senna a lift while Schumacher causes controversy A look at the famous and quirky images from the GP years at Silverstone
- SPIELBERG: Ferrari duo Schumacher and Barrichello land in hot water, while De Angelis wins by just half-a-tenth Sportsmail looks back at the controversy and famous pictures
- MONTREAL: Hamilton takes first grand prix win, Kubica crashes heavily and the Wall of Champions makes its mark Best of the Canadian GP
- MONTE CARLO: From Senna's masterclass to the grand prix style harbour plunge Sportsmail looks back at famous images from down the years
- BARCELONA: As the grand prix circus reaches Catalunya we look back on Mansell vs Senna and more... Sportsmail rolls back the years...
- SAKHIR: Hamilton and Rosberg go toe-toe in 'Race of the Century' We look back at the best images from the Bahrain Grand Prix over the years
- SHANGHAI: The best (and worst) of the great Michael Schumacher Sportsmail looks back at the best images over the years from the Shanghai Circuit
- SEPANG: Alonso leads Hamilton in a McLaren one-two as Button wins race-shortened 2009 GP DAN RIPLEY looks at the best images as our new series continues...
- MELBOURNE: We take a look back at the best Albert Park pictures, from Brundle's jaw-dropping smash to Button's shock win for Brawn GP
TOP SPORT STORIES
- Newcastle 3-3 United MARTIN SAMUEL: The wisdom is that a point is no good for a team in Newcastle's position. Not this one. This was absolute gold dust
- Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham SAM CUNNINGHAM: West Ham taught Bournemouth that money does not always buy you success
- Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace LAURIE WHITWELL: It has been 157 days in the waiting but at last Aston Villa are victorious in the Premier League
- Carroll set for another spell on the sidelines Andy Carroll limped off after 15 minutes. He has suffered six major injuries since joining West Ham in 2012
- Shelvey completes £12m Newcastle move Jonjo Shelvey arrived on Tyneside on Tuesday to undergo a medical and finalise a five-year deal with the club
- 'This is important': Klopp hails arrival of Caulker in loan deal as Liverpool boss prepares to throw defender in against Arsenal Joined from QPR
- Named and shamed: Schweinsteiger and Rodriguez among 30 stars who didn't vote for Messi in their Ballon d'Or top three Surely the best?
- Big clubs panicking and Bournemouth blowing £19m in 10 days...Wenger is right to predict mad January Smaller clubs splashing the cash
- Vidic leaves Inter Milan by mutual consent with former Manchester United captain weighing up offers from MLS Unhappy spell ends for former Old Trafford star
- Messi and Ronaldo are a regular feature in FIFA FIFPro's World XI... but who else makes the ultimate star-studded team by appearances? All-time great team
- Alli signs new five-year Spurs deal worth £25,000 a week after dramatic rise to top Dele Alli only joined Spurs in the summer from MK Dons