Eight Formula One teams head to Jerez in southern Spain for testing ahead of the new season, which begins on 29 March

A familiar face is in Spain to check on Ferrari's progress. The team say seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher is there in an advisory capacity

Day one sees Germany's Sebastian Vettel in the Adrian Newey-designed Red Bull post the quickest time

That leaves Ferrari's Felipe Massa with plenty to think about after his fastest lap is more than a second slower than Vettel's

Some heavy showers interrupt day two as Robert Kubica puts the new BMW Sauber through its paces

Despite the weather, Nico Rosberg covers a full race distance in the Williams FW31 and posts the third quickest lap of the day

Force India left it late to unveil their 2009 car after linking up with new engine partner Mercedes - but they too impress with Giancarlo Fisichella at the wheel

But it is Toyota, still seeking their first win in F1, who top the times on day two, Germany's Timo Glock leaving his rivals trailing

After avoiding the rain, Massa is back in his Ferrari on day three, but Glock remains quickest

Spanish hero Fernando Alonso covers 152 laps in the Renault R29 and is third quickest on the day

Two-times world champion Alonso tells a gaggle of attentive journalists it was a "productive day"

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen is two-tenths of a second slower than Alonso as he tests the MP4-24 for the first time in dry conditions

World champion Lewis Hamilton is all smiles as he prepares for his testing day on Wednesday

But it doesn't prove to be a particularly happy day for Hamilton, who only manages 70 laps after a technical issue in the morning