Renault has also constructed an entirely-new machine, the R.S.17. The new car is the first to be entirely designed and built in-house since the team’s return to F1, and has been tasked with achieving a fifth placing in this year’s championship with drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer at the controls.  This will be a big step up from last year’s ninth placing, but president of Renault Sport Racing Jerome Stroll is confident in the new car, saying: “For 2017 our performance targets are clear. We want to take a definite, tangible step forward in performance and results. Fifth position in the constructors’ championship is our goal.”

Expect to see Renault, Force India, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull unlock their secrets daily in this order during the next seven days leading up to the start of testing on 27 February.