F1 Preseason Testing: Know The Dates, Circuit & Everything You Know About The Testing

What Is Preseason testing? 

Preseason testing in Formula One(F1) is essentially the first time all 10 teams will assemble on the same circuit to test their new vehicles.

The Bahrain Grand Prix on the first weekend of March marks the official start of the action in 2023, giving F1 constructors a short window of opportunity to test out their new cars.

Each team participates in three days of testing, which is fewer than the usual five days every preseason, as well as two 15-kilometre demos and two 100-kilometre promotional races. Nonetheless, these activities are strictly controlled to prevent teams from amassing a lot of knowledge while playing.

As there was less preseason testing last year, numerous vehicles had problems.

Porpoising, which affected several teams on the grid last season, most notably Mercedes, was the biggest of those issues. In essence, this phenomenon happened when the automobile became unstable at high speeds from air being sucked beneath it, causing it to hop up and down on straightaways.

As the name suggests, F1 teams are free to test as many set-ups, components, and programmes on the approved days of track activity as they choose. While the amount of laps is theoretically limitless during the hours the track is open, Pirelli distributes an equal number of each tyre compound to each team, often enough to allow all teams to accomplish as much running as it likes.

While FIA scrutineering is not severely enforced because the testing is not done under grand prix circumstances, all regular safety standards as outlined by FIA rules must be met for driving the vehicles on the circuit. F1 teams could, in theory, run a car that is safe but not legal but there would be a minimal benefit in this as the teams wouldn’t be able to use the car in the same specification or set-up in a race weekend.

Can I watch pre-season testing? 

F1 will broadcast the entire Bahrain test on Sky Sports F1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, plus on F1 TV in territories where it is available.

  • Bahrain F1 test: 23-25 February
  • Channels: Sky Sports F1 (UK and Ireland only)
  • Start time: 6:50 am GMT, each day 23-25 February
  • Channel numbers – Sky: 406
  • Channel numbers – Virgin Media: 506

Motorsport.com will be running a live text commentary on the F1 pre-season test from Bahrain.

Who will drive at F1 pre-season testing? 

Team  Driver (Morning session)  Driver (Afternoon session) 
Red Bull  TBC TBC
Ferrari  TBC TBC
Mercedes  TBC TBC
Alpine  TBC TBC
McLaren  TBC TBC
Alfa Romeo  TBC TBC
Aston Martin  TBC TBC
Haas  TBC TBC
AlphaTauri  TBC TBC
Williams  TBC TBC

Previous F1 testing results vs winners 

Year Circuit Driver Team Fastest test lap time Driver Team Pole position lap time
2022 Bahrain Max Verstappen Red Bull 1m31.720s Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1m30.558s
2021 Bahrain Max Verstappen Red Bull 1m28.960s Max Verstappen Red Bull 1m28.997s
2020 Barcelona Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1m15.732s Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m15.584s
2019 Barcelona Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m16.221s Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1m15.406s
2018 Barcelona Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m17.182s Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m16.173s
2017 Barcelona Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m18.634s Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m19.149s
2016 Barcelona Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m22.765s Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m22.000s
2015 Barcelona Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m22.792s Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m24.681s
2014 Bahrain Felipe Massa Williams 1m33.258s Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m33.185s
2013 Barcelona Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m20.130s Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m20.718s
2012 Barcelona Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1m22.030s Pastor Maldonado Williams 1m22.285s

 

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