PRE-SEASON testing for the new Formula 1 season resumes today with Oxfordshire’s teams hoping for better weather in Spain.

Rain and snow affected last week’s sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Enstone-based Renault team completed only 249 laps but, with temperatures set to rise to 15C, are optimistic of more track time.

Managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: “We saw the first glimpse of the Renault R.S.18’s potential on track, albeit in very cold, wet and unrepresentative conditions.

“Obviously, it’s very early days in our understanding of the car, but both Nico (Hülkenberg) and Carlos (Sainz) have given positive feedback.

“This week we are targeting a significantly higher lap tally.”

The Grove-based Williams team are in an upbeat mood.

Chief technical officer Paddy Lowe said: “We’re very happy to have made the most of the conditions we had.

“We look forward to hopefully some warmer weather when we gear up for some more representative performance testing.”

The Haas team, from Banbury, were also pleased with their progress.

Team principal Guenther Steiner said: “We understand the car a little bit better.

“This week need to start from where we are now, get better, and then work toward being ready for Australia.”

GROVE’S Panasonic Jaguar Racing team moved up to fourth in the FIA Formula E Championship after a strong fifth round in Mexico City.

Nelson Piquet jnr and Mitch Evans finished fourth and sixth respectively at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Jaguar are now four points ahead of the DS Virgin Racing team, for whom Grove’s Alex Lynn finished tenth.

The 24-year-old qualified second, but was hit by a ten-place grid penalty due to a previous gearbox change.

Lynn was pleased with the result on a track where overtaking is always difficult.

He said: “The performance we’ve shown is positive and we’re confident moving forward.”