Mercedes 'on target' to run new car in January

Mercedes team principal Toto Wollf has revealed that his team is on target to get its new 2015 car ready in time for a shakedown ahead of their trip to Jerez for the first official winter test.

Wolff told Italy's Gazetta Dello Sport that the team plans to shakedown their new car at Silverstone before heading off to Spain where the first winter test is set to take place from February 1 to 4.

"We are on track with development and have a clear idea of where we stand in terms of the chassis and engine," Wolff said.

"The first goal is to assemble the car for mid-January, when we plan to test at Silverstone. But only at Jerez will we have a picture of how we compare to our rivals."

Wolff says it is not yet clear if Mercedes will stage an official launch, or simply reveal its new design in the pit lane ahead of the opening test.

"It is not yet fixed, but I do not rule out that it will happen right before the first test in Spain," he explained.

Last year, Mercedes held a shakedown of its car the day before testing commenced in Jerez, with the team officially unveiling their car in the pitlane at Jerez, the morning of the first testing day.