The second part of our 2014 Formula 1 season preview takes a look at those teams who occupied the midfield slots in 2013 - some are looking higher up the grid, while others will simply be trying to retain that position. Toro Rosso-Renault 25 | Jean-Éric Vergne; 26 | Daniil Kvyat The fundamental basis of the STR9 appears strong but currently, like their Renault rivals, they remain hindered by reliability issues and a general lack of running. Toro Rosso’s aim is to keep running along […]

Kevin Magnussen set the fastest time on the second day of testing in Bahrain as many teams enjoyed a productive day of running as pre-season testing reached its halfway point. The Dane's time of 1:34.910 was set during the final hour to give Magnussen a time around 2.5 seconds slower than last year's pole position time at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Magnussen spent much of the morning in the garage as McLaren worked on his MP4-29. Wednesday's pacesetter Nico Hulkenberg was 1.5s further back in […]

Kevin Magnussen says he is determined to justify the faith shown by McLaren as he approaches his rookie season in the sport. Magnussen has replaced Sergio Perez for this season and topped the timesheets at the first test at Jerez last week. "I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given, and in a way it still hasn’t really sunk in yet," he told The Official F1 website. "When I got into the car for the first time at Jerez last Thursday, in fact, it […]

After four days of testing at Jerez, teams will head back to their respective factories with a differing opinion of how they fared in southern Spain. There is, of course, the caveat that testing is what it says on the tin: a chance to trial the cars before the first race. No-one was hugely hung up on the lap times as teams focused on mileage, with the cars and power units not pushed to the maximum, while Jerez’s atypical track surface was exacerbated by cold […]

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale says that their 2014 driver line-up is a 'win-win situation' for the team. Jenson Button remains with McLaren for a fifth season and he is joined by reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion Kevin Magnussen. They will race the MP4-29, which was unveiled on Friday. "We all know and like Jenson very much – he’s an integral part of this team now," said Neale. "Kevin has shown such fantastic promise – both in the junior series, and on the occasions that […]

McLaren has revealed their 2014 challenger ahead of the first pre-season test at Jerez. The MP4-29 is the team's final car to be powered by Mercedes, prior to their switch to Honda power from 2015. The car will be raced by Jenson Button, who is entering his fifth year as a McLaren driver, and Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen. The car was unveiled in basic silver livery with MP4-29 branding. "We’ve never had such significant new regulations before; reacting to them, and managing those changes, while […]

Stoffel Vandoorne has been appointed as McLaren's reserve driver for 2014. The Belgian will also race in GP2 for ART after the French team confirmed a partnership agreement with McLaren and its 2015 F1 engine suppliers Honda. Vandoorne finished as runner-up to Kevin Magnussen in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series last year and has been a member of McLaren's young driver programme. "I’m thrilled and honoured to have been selected by McLaren Mercedes to be the team’s Formula 1 reserve driver for 2014, and I’m […]