Sauber's 2016 Car Will Miss First Formula 1 Test In Barcelona

Swiss F1 team Sauber will not run its '16 car "until the second and final pre-season test," according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. The Australian Grand Prix was brought forward to March 20, "forcing teams to re-think their production schedules." But Sauber will stick with its initial plan, which means it "will run a modified version" of its '15 car at Barcelona from Feb. 22-25. The '16 car -- the C35 -- "will appear for the first time at the second test at the same track" from March 1-4. Sauber will retain the same driver line-up as in '15, "with Brazilian Felipe Nasr partnering Swede Marcus Ericsson." Meanwhile, McLaren became the first team to announce the date for the public unveiling of its new car. The Honda-powered MP4-31, which will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, "will be unveiled online" on Feb. 21 (BBC, 1/18).