Start planning your 2017 Formula 1 season

Behind-the-scenes things have not stopped in the world of Formula 1, in fact you can bet that every team is working feverishly to on their 2017 cars to have them ready in time for the forthcoming season which kicks off when teams launch their new challengers and testing begins in Barcelona.

Here we provide a list of key dates and other info to get your season started, to help plan your grand prix weekends. If you are looking to book tickets then head over to our Grand Prix ticket partners to buy your tickets here>>>

Although most teams have yet to confirm when their respective new cars will break cover, for now Mercedes are on track to reveal their 2017 challenger at Silverstone on 23 February.

The new cars will take to the track in anger for the first time on the morning of 27 February at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, where they will be in action for four days. Teams return to the venue in Spain eight days letter for a second and final four day preseason test.

On the morning of 24 March championship action gets underway with the first free practice session of the year in Melbourne, followed by qualifying the next day and the first race of the season on 26 March, the Australian Grand Prix, at Albert Park.

More car launch dates are expected in the next few weeks, with several teams expected to take the covers off their new cars in the pitlane on the first morning of the first preseason test.

Most teams have confirmed their driver line-ups for the new season, however a question mark does hang over who will drive for Mercedes in the wake of Nico Rosberg's sudden departure after securing the 2016 F1 World Championship title.

All indications are that Valtteri Bottas will get the drive alongside Lewis Hamilton, with Felipe Massa cutting very short his retirement for another year at Williams and Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein lining up on the grid for Sauber. However, this all needs to be confirmed by the respective teams.

Two drives are still up for grabs at Manor with several drivers in contention.