The Italian team's switch to running year-old Ferrari engines was only made at the end of the season, and has meant staff have been working extra shifts in a bid to complete the car prior to next week's test.

And although team boss Franz Tost confirmed on Monday that the team was on schedule to get its car out for the first Barcelona test that starts on February 22, he also said that it was now decided the outfit would be running in a temporary test livery there.

"It will be a blue car," he said, when asked by Motorsport.com about the livery plans.

"We will [present the car officially] on the 29th [of February] because we are so late with everything.

"We want to make a proper paint job as well, so we will present the car only then in Barcelona."

Fire-up

Tost said that the fire-up of the Ferrari-powered STR11 was expected to take place at some point on Monday, with there being no suggestion the team would not make the first Barcelona test.

"In F1 you have always two problems," he said. "You run out of time and you run out of timing. That is always the same. It is nothing new this year.

"Nevertheless, because of the late decision of what [engine] we were running this season everything got a little bit late, but our people did a fantastic job.

"The car is nearly ready. I think we will have the fire-up today and we absolutely on schedule. Therefore I am not worried for the first test in Barcelona."

Interview by Franco Nugnes