Force India finally get their season going

Force India finally began its winter programme at the Circuit de Catalunya, but only with the 2014 car and Mercedes reserve Pascal Wehrlein at the wheel before he was summoned to Mercedes to replace ill Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez taking over the cockpit of the VJM07.

But it appears the really important action was apparently occurring behind the scenes,as Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Silverstone based team "passed all the crash tests" with its delayed 2015 car, the VJM08.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt added: "The second chassis has been completed and approved by the FIA.

"All the dynamic and static crash tests have been passed," he revealed, dispelling any lingering fears that Force India might be missing in action in Melbourne.