In a flurry of activity, cars have been launched, new sponsors have been unveiled, new drivers have made their debuts and the F1 show is back on the road.
The first test session at Jerez in 2012 is no different from the usual first round of the season. Don't expect any Pulizter Prize-winning scoops at this stage of the year as this is when the spin-meisters come into their own. Everything is positive.
Without an actual race or qualifying performance to disprove their optimism, they can turn even the most dismal six-lap testing day into a triumph of innovation and technical resolve. Throughout the week some regular themes develop. Already at Jerez we've seen them coming thick and fast. Drivers are so positive and upbeat about the future they make door stepping Mormon missionaries look gloomy and introspective. Here are some of the themes you'll be seeing at Jerez and then Barcelona:
The car feels better than last year
"Performance-wise, this year is much quicker. It (the feel of the car) is pretty similar to last year and the laptime is a lot better." Kamui Kobayashi
"If we look at where we were this time last year and where we are now it's a massive step forward, it's almost three seconds already." Paul Di Resta
"The car is completely different. I was quite surprised how good the balance was from the first lap. We were quite heavy with fuel and not pushing 100 per cent, but the first impression I got is that the car was working well." - Pastor Maldonado
"There are no niggly areas with the car, which is a good sign. It's quite different to last year. So, I am happy." Jenson Button
"We need to do a lot of hard work, but we think we are at a good point compared to what we are expecting on the first day." Nikolas Tombazis, Ferrari Designer
We're far more motivated than last year
"We need on-track confirmation, but I feel I can say that we'll see a very different Massa compared to 2011." Nicholas Todt, Felipe's manager
"I have plenty of motivation, plenty of drive. I am positive about myself and this is what I want. Sure I am always under pressure, this is true and driving for a team such as Ferrari you are always going to be under pressure." Felipe Massa
"Mark has come back learner, lighter and enthused about F1 and the season ahead. He seems to have a spring in his step and is looking forward to getting out there and going racing again." Christian Horner on Mark Webber
"I feel extremely hungry and motivated for the new season. The Brazil tonic was very nice in many ways, but also to have the off-season in Australia, I haven't had that big a break in a long time." Mark Webber
"There's a bit more motivation now that it's my car for the season, which makes you focus 110 per cent on every little detail. It's a bigger deal than last year." Daniel Ricciardo
We may not have speed but at least we've got reliability.
"The target was not performance as we will see about that later, but it was good to start like this. The first impression of the car is quite smooth." Kamui Kobayashi (contradicting what he'd said earlier)
It's no problem not having the new car ready, we're establishing a baseline
"We need to learn more about the behaviour of the new Pirelli tyres on our car." Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug
We're not going for a time; times don't mean anything.
"I mean it's the first day, and it would make a difference if it were a race weekend, but here it means nothing." Kimi Raikkonen
"Now all this test is about is gathering information. It's not about performance." Paul Di Resta
"I think the main thing was to get a lot of mileage to start off with." Kimi Raikkonen
Somebody who hadn't read the PR script was Lotus boss Eric Boullier. Earlier in the week his technical director James Alison had given a long interview to Autosport's Jonathan Noble and talked down the team's time spent developing Active Ride, the braking stability system that was deemed to give cars a big aerodynamic edge. James didn't appear to seem that bothered that it was banned by the FIA...
"Honestly I think it was just part of the cut-and-thrust of F1 development," he told Jonathan. "It is not without precedent, is it? There are lots and lots of times where we have been the beneficiary of that type of decision and other times when it has gone against us. But it is part of F1. It probably cost us three/four man months."
Team boss Eric Boullier wasn't so laid back. In fact he seemed pretty hacked off by it. "We spent a lot of time and energy, plus money as well, to build a group that is bringing innovation and work into the system. It takes time to put this suspension in place, and took us a couple of years.
"Obviously we are not stupid, every time we go through the process, we go to the FIA, and the FIA is backing us up. Then, when you start to use it, to see it banned with no discussion is always frustrating. We have to respect the rule, but it is frustrating."
Zut alors! Where was the PR man when you needed him?
Dave Jorgensen
Andrew Davies Adds: A day after Dave's feature goes up and what do you know it, sod's law being what it is, Pat Fry, Ferrari's technical director talks to reporters at the Jerez test and admits the team "aren't happy" with the early progress of the car. It would be interesting to know what veretan Ferrari pressman Luca Colajanni thought of that response so early on! And it'll be interesting to see if there are ramifications in the next few days.
