Adrian Sutil was fastest in the first session of the year driving the VJM03 Adrian Sutil put Force India at the top of the times sheets at following free practice one at Bahrain. Ferrari and McLaren also headed the times during the 90-minute session with Fernando Alonso ending the session second quickest ahead of the man who replaced him at Renault, Robert Kubica. The three new teams struggled to find the pace on the extended Bahrain circuit.

Our first live blog of the year is coming up shortly for free practice one in Bahrain. Until then, here’s today’s round-up: Links Q & A with Martin Whitmarsh (Autosport) On McLaren’s radical snorkel/rear wing design. McLaren Snorkel: How it works (Scarbs) More on the snorkel

Michael Schumacher has been appointed as the drivers’ representative on the FIA’s Circuits Commission. The Circuits Commissions reports to the World Motor Sports Council on – you guessed it – matters to do with circuit design, particularly safety.

The FIA will try to fill the vacant place on the grid left by US F1 next year. Following a meeting of the World Motor Sports Council in Bahrain today the FIA also said it will appoint a reserve entry for the 2011 season, in case the new team or one of the existing teams is not able to compete. Among the unsuccessful applicants in the two rounds of tenders held last year were Prodrive, Lola, Epsilon Euskadi, N.Technology and Stefan Grand Prix.

Bernie Eccletone has told the FIA the Indian Grand Prix will appear on the 2011 F1 calendar. An FIA statement said: Subject to final approval of the calendar by the World Council, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, President of FOM, has informed the FIA that India will host a Formula One event in 2011

Renault has announced two new sponsorship deals in the last two days.

Michael Schumacher is my tip for the title – who’s yours? In less than 24 hours’ times we’ll start to get answers to all the questions we have about the hugely anticipated new Formula 1 season.

Ferrari are early favourites for the constructors’ championship Ferrari narrowly lead McLaren as the favourites to win this years constructors’ championship, according to F1 Fanatic readers. Over 17,500 votes were cast in the polls to name the winner of the 2010 constructors’ championship. The average finishing position named by readers for Ferrari in this year’s championship was 1.77 – narrowly beating McLaren’s 1.85

Ferrari’s long-run pace marks them out as candidates for victory The off-season finally draws to a close and the teams have assembled at Bahrain for the first round of 2010.

The clock is running out on the off-season. The 2010 F1 season starts tomorrow