Jérôme D'Ambrosio has led testing duties for Virgin during the final week in Barcelona, with Timo Glock sidelined as he recovers from appendicitis. Despite the minor setback, the team believe they are moving forward.

Technical director Nick Wirth said after the Jerez test: "As with every new car, the test has revealed a number of small issues which we'll address quickly, but the main thing is that the basic package seems reliable, which was our first priority."

Looking at the bigger picture, Wirth is confident that this year is going to be a great one for everyone both in and out of Formula One: "At the end of the day the biggest single variable is the driver. When you have got rear tyres going away it is the old right foot. I think you guys and the general public could be in for an absolute corking year in terms of spectacle."