Latest F1 news in brief

Only Mercedes, Williams to test 2015 engine at Jerez
2015 revival could see Dinnington return for Manor
Alonso 'an alternative, not a priority' – Wolff

Only Mercedes, Williams to test 2015 engine at Jerez
(GMM) Nine weeks after the 2014 finale, formula one is now counting down the mere days before the resumption of track action.

The winter lull will soon be replaced by a spate of car unveilings and the sound of F1 2015, as the first official test of the new season begins at Jerez on Sunday.

Williams and Force India have already revealed their new car designs, and now Lotus has shown images of its newly Mercedes-powered E23, sporting a more conventional front solution after the double-pronged nose of its uncompetitive predecessor.

"Improvements within our design, aero and simulation departments have all contributed to the development of a car which is a huge step forward," said team CEO Matthew Carter.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims that Lotus will have to make do with the 2014 version of Mercedes' turbo V6 engine for the Jerez test.

The publication said another Mercedes customer, Force India, will follow the same strategy, with only the works team and its most competitive customer Williams to run the German marque's 2015 specification at the first test.

Ferrari, meanwhile, finally announced on Monday the official name of its 2015 car, which until now was only referred to by its internal project code, 666.

The new red single seater, to be revealed on Friday, will be called SF15-T.

Insider Leo Turrini wrote on his Quotidiano blog that the nose of the 2015 car is "very different" to that of its disappointing predecessor, the F14-T.

And McLaren said its works Honda-powered 2015 car was fired up for the first time on Monday, before Fernando Alonso drives it at Jerez on Sunday.

2015 revival could see Dinnington return for Manor
(GMM) If the former Marussia team survives the winter, it will have to house itself elsewhere.

That is because Haas, F1's new American entrant for 2016, has confirmed reports it has bought the Marussia facility in Banbury from the ailing team's administrators.

Haas denied, however, that it is the mystery investor that could revive the backmarker, which is now called Manor following the departure from the scene of Russian owner Andrey Cheglakov.

Italy's Omnicorse reports that the prospective buyer could be a consortium from India, possibly backed by Ferrari who are owed close to $20 million by Marussia.

Having sold Banbury, however, an eleventh-hour rescue would leave Manor needing a new headquarters.

Omnicorse claims the team could simply revert to Dinnington, South Yorkshire, where at the start of the F1 project the team then known as Virgin was based.

Alonso 'an alternative, not a priority' – Wolff
(GMM) Talks to renew world champion Lewis Hamilton's contract are finally looming, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has announced.

The British driver's current contract expires at the end of this year, and Wolff has already declared that Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas are at the front of the queue should Hamilton not stay.

Indeed, Germany's Sport Bild claims that Spaniard Alonso has a corresponding exit clause in his new McLaren-Honda deal.

"I cannot comment," Wolff insisted.

"Only this: it's always good to be prepared for all eventualities. Alternatives are always important. But they are alternatives, not priorities," he added.

As for Hamilton's future, Wolff sounded optimistic that despite not yet agreeing a new deal, the two sides will ultimately stay together.

"We have not yet agreed because we have not sat down together," said the Austrian.

"At the end of last season, we did not want to disrupt Lewis' focus. Now he is back from vacation, we will sit together in the near future," Wolff revealed.

"I can say: both parties want to extend. For us, Lewis and Nico is the best and strongest driver combination and we therefore have no reason to change anything.

"Lewis feels good in the team," he added. "We give him the best car. That speaks for a common future."