Ferrari first to launch 2009 car

Ferrari will be the first team to launch its car for the 2009 season.

The constructors' champion will unveil its latest F1 challenger at its Italian HQ at Maranello on 12 January.

Felipe Massa, who lost the 2008 crown to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by a single point, will get behind the wheel on the Fiorano track later that day.

McLaren unveil their car on 16 January, a day after Toyota launch their new model, with Renault, Williams and BMW Sauber unveiling the following week.

Red Bull announced on Monday that their car will be launched much later than many other leading teams, on 9 February.

All cars must comply to new 2009 regulations which include aerodynamic modifications where the front wing will be lowered and widened and the rear wing become taller and narrower.

Slick, untreaded, tyres will also be reintroduced and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers) to boost their car's performance.

When Ferrari present their 2009 car in Maranello next week it will not meet race specifications for the opening Grand Prix in Australia on 29 March.

The Italian marque will test the car over the next couple of months and further improvements will be made in time for the Melbourne race.