With just 27 days to go until F1 pre-season testing begins in Bahrain, let’s take a quick look at why the testing period is so crucial for teams!
Over the winter break teams finish building the cars they will use to compete in the following season. With regulations staying mostly the same in 2024, teams already have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t, but testing is just as important! Having spent a year working with one car, testing provides a vital opportunity for drivers and teams to get to know the new car and what it is capable of before taking it to the first race on March 2nd.
The day is normally divided into 2, with a morning and afternoon session of track time where teams can send out one driver at a time. Drivers become accustom with the car they will be spending many hours in over the following months! Testing also allows teams to test the reliability of their new cars as well as any new design features. They can assess the data and figure out how to get the best performance from their car and drivers.
Testing is typically the place where rookies get their first proper go behind the wheel of the car they will be responsible for. It allows them to get better acquainted with the extreme speed of the car and understand the technology the teams have in place. In a rare occurrence for F1, the 2024 grid remains the same as the grid competing at the end of the 2023 season, meaning drivers have a minimum of a year of experience behind them.
While the drivers are out on track, the engineers will be collecting data to ensure it matches with the simulations they have been working with in wind tunnels and driving simulators. It also gives the pit crew a chance to practice the all-important pit stops with the new car. Over the course of the weekend, you might see some strange things! For example, teams will put devices and special paint on the front of the cars to measure the air flow around the car to report back to the aerodynamics teams!
Testing is being held in Bahrain in 2024 meaning teams can gather data and practise driving the circuit before the first race is held there the following week. It should be a great first race given the amount of track time the cars and drivers will have had in the space of 7 days!
F1.com will run live text commentary throughout the testing weekend so fans can keep up to date with everything going on! Not long now until F1 is back on our screens!
Testing Schedule:
Practise 1: 21st February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT
Practice 2: 22nd February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT
Practice 3: 23rd February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT
Written by Cesca.
The Fastest Sector 