F1 never sleeps for long (and in Ferrari's case not all!) and most teams have been out testing this week at Barcelona, with Scuderia Ferrari a notable absentee, in Bahrain last week and Valencia and Mugello this. This is somewhat surprising, since solitary testing was cited as one reason for their loss of form this year - the Bridgestone tyres were said to have had a unfortunate reaction with the Michelin rubber left on the track on race weekends; however it doesn't seem to have affected the Toyotas and Williams' running the Japanese rubber for the first time in Spain

In Barcelona there was a mix of V10s and V8s. Jenson Button was comfortably quickest with a V10, but it is not clear whether this was an '05, or restricted '06 spec engine. Red Bull were using an '05 spec engine whilst waiting for their Ferrari V8s, but sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso used a restricted engine in a Red Bull chassis, this being the combination they hope to run next year. The restrictor is clearly visible in the airbox of these cars (see pic) but not in the 'Red Bull' Red Bull, BAR or Renault, also said to be using a restricted unit.

Of more interest are the V8s. The new Toyota TF106 was quickest, ahead of the Cosworth-powered Williams of Mark Webber which also sported a new post-BMW dark blue livery which harkens back to the early years of Frank Williams' Racing. McLaren were quickest V8 for part of the week and BMW-Sauber ran their new unit in a car driven by Nick Heidfeld. Anthony Davidson ran Honda's V8 but his best time was set in a V10. Button gave the new engine a whizz on the last (dry) day before rain stopped play.

The teams also used the opportunity to give new drivers a run. Robert Doornbos for Red Bull, 2005 DTM Champion Gary Paffet for McLaren and World Series Champion Robert Kubica and former Formula Renault Eurocup V6 champion Giorgio Mondini for Renault.

2005 WTCC Andy Priaulx was out for Williams and was slowest, five seconds behind GP2 Champion Nico Rosberg, though he did complete far fewer laps - whatever, he's still come a long way from hillclimbing, this year being the tenth anniversary of his British title win. For a full list of times from Barcelona, click here. To hear the difference between a V8 and a V10 click here.

Ferrari completed four days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. Marc Gene carrying out endurance testing on the V8 engine in an F2004, covering a total of 320 laps, the quickest of 1.34.455 on the final day.

Luca Badoer drove an F2005 as part of a Bridgestone tyre development programme, completing a total of 254 laps with a best time of 1.34.588, again set on the final day - the fastest lap time in this year's GP was set by de la Rosa (McLaren) in 1:31.447.

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