The Formula One season concluded swiftly, and now a multitude of cars are ready to hit the grids, equipped with various updates, aerodynamic enhancements, and significant modifications to enhance the drivers’ performance during races.
The upcoming pre-season testing sessions will serve as a crucial period for each team to grasp the significance of these changes and optimize their chances of success on the track.
What exactly is F1 pre-season testing?
F1 pre-season testing is a three-day event that will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit. This event will be held this week within three days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), and teams are allowed to test the setup of their cars and visible changes, providing a valuable insight into how their cars will perform for the rest of this season.
Pre-season testing will start later this week in Bahrain!
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 19, 2024
Teams will have three days to test their cars for the first time.#F1 pic.twitter.com/47CGCxP706
Each day is divided into two sessions: a morning session, which will start at 10:00 a.m. local time and last for four hours, and an afternoon session, which will start at 3:00 p.m. local time and last for 4 and a half hours. The afternoon session will tend to be more useful for the drivers, as they could witness the pace and the car’s session during the nighttime hours. It will also be in handy as the Bahrain Grand Prix is conducted during the dark hours.
The session is mainly conducted to test whether any further adjustments need to be made in each respective car and to avoid any overall technical issues during the main Grand Prix event.
F1 2024 pre-season testing: dates, venue, drivers
The pre-season testing session will mainly start on Wednesday, February 21 at the Bahrain International Circuit and will be held for three days, as mentioned above. The schedule is briefly mentioned below.
Wednesday
Morning session: 10:00 a.m. local time / 2:00 a.m. Eastern time
Afternoon session: 3:00 p.m. local time / 7:00 a.m. Eastern time
Thursday
Morning session: 10:00 a.m. local time / 2:00 a.m. Eastern time
Afternoon session: 3:00 p.m. local time / 7:00 a.m. Eastern time
Friday
Morning session: 10:00 a.m. local time / 2:00 a.m. Eastern time
Afternoon session: 3:00 p.m. local time / 7:00 a.m. Eastern time
Although the schedule for every F1 team has not been revealed yet, some teams like Red Bull and Haas have announced their session schedules. Here is a detailed schedule for the drivers of both teams.
Haas:
- Wednesday: Magnussen (morning), Hülkenberg (afternoon)
- Thursday: Hülkenberg (morning), Magnussen (afternoon)
- Friday: Magnussen (morning), Hülkenberg (afternoon)
Red Bull:
- Wednesday: Verstappen (all day)
- Thursday: Pérez (morning), Verstappen (afternoon)
- Friday: Pérez (all day)
Why is pre-season testing happening in Bahrain?
There are two initial reasons for conducting the pre-season at the Bahrain International Circuit. Firstly, it minimizes the cost as well as the travel time, as the first Grand Prix will take place in Bahrain itself in the following week.
BREAKING: Lance Stroll to miss pre-season testing in Bahrain after training accident#F1 pic.twitter.com/UDDBkdKELW
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 20, 2023
Secondly, the layout of the circuit offers a multitude of opportunities for testing. It features long straights, such as the extended stretch from the sector to the start/finish line in Sector 1, and tight corners, particularly in Sector 2 along with the circuit enabling the drivers to test their cars both in long straights and tight corners.
What are your opinions on the pre-season testing session in Bahrain? Tell us in the comment section below.
