Formula One teams hit the test track

Formula One returned to the track on Sunday for the first day of winter testing.

Seven drivers jumped back into their cars in Jerez, Spain for the first day of a four day testing session.

There were three drivers settling into their new surroundings after switching teams at the end of last season.

Former four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel got into his Ferrari for the first time in an official session, completing 60 laps and setting the fastest time of the day.

?Today was a good start, I can?t say more than that, because this is only the beginning. Everything is different, even the philosophy behind the car, when compared to what I was used to. But I immediately felt at ease within the team and the guys gave me a very warm welcome.’ Vettel told formula1.com after the session.

Former Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson got into his new Sauber for 2015, he completed 73 laps and set the second fastest time of the day.

But it wasn’t the best news for former two-time F1 title holder Fernando Alonso who got into the new McLaren Honda for the first time. The Spaniard completed just 6 laps and was 18 seconds slower than Vettel.

Someone else settling in was Carlos Sainz Jr in the Toro Rosso, he completed 46 laps.

For Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing and Valtteri Bottas at Williams it was back in familiar surroundings.

Rosberg completed the most mileage of the day with a whopping 157 laps completed. Whilst Ricciardo completed 35 and Bottas 73.

Rosberg said: ?That was a great start to the winter testing, In the beginning it?s all about reliability and we managed to do a lot of mileage today. The guys in the factories built a complete new car and now we come here and it?s working great, so the team did a fantastic job over the winter.

Unofficial Sunday testing times

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1m 22.620s
2. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1m 22.777s
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m 23.106s
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1m 23.338s
5. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1m 23.906s
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso, 1m 25.327s
7. Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1m 40.738s