After spending the last few seasons playing catch-up to Red Bull and McLaren, Ferrari were under pressure to pull something special out of the bag for 2012. And after revolutionising the way they approach the design of their cars, the Italian team are certain the newly-launched F2012 is capable of returning them to their championship-winning heydays.

Williams will unveil their 2012 car, the FW34, at the first pre-season test. The four-day session will get underway at Spain's Jerez circuit on February 7. The British team endured their worst-ever campaign in 2011, scoring just five points and finishing ninth in the standings.

Toro Rosso are expected to launch their 2012 car at the first pre-season test, which will get underway at the Spanish circuit of Jerez on February 7. The TR7 completed the FIA’s crash test programme on Wednesday.

Robert Kubica’s hopes of making a Formula One return in 2012 were dealt a blow on Wednesday when he injured his right leg after falling on ice at his home in Italy. It is the same leg he damaged in his serious rallying accident last February.

Williams have confirmed that Pastor Maldonado will remain with the team next season. It will be the Venezuelan’s second year racing in F1, following a tough rookie campaign in which he secured one world championship point.

Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.

This week’s test at Yas Marina may have been designed to allow the teams to audition young drivers, but tyre supplier Pirelli will also use the three-day session in Abu Dhabi to trial a selection of prototype compounds that they hope to introduce in 2012.