Two weeks ago, the new era of F1 began as the 2022 cars took to the track in Barcelona for a ‘shakedown’ behind closed doors. Two weeks later, the doors are open and spectators are ready to get their first proper look at this year’s machinery.
The Bahrain pre-season test will be the final chance for teams to prepare for the upcoming season and so it is likely that the cars we see this week, will differ greatly from the Barcelona test.
For many teams the purpose of testing and data collected in Barcelona, was to get an idea of the cars’ reliability. However this time round, it will be performance at the forefront as teams push for representative times.
With Bahrain hosting the first Grand Prix just one week later, this test gives teams relevant data that can be quickly applied to the race. It will also offer a much warmer climate then was experienced in Barcelona, making the data applicable to those notoriously hot races.
The schedule for the three days includes two sessions per day, with an hour break in between:
Session 1: 10:00 – 14:00 (local time)
Session 2: 15:00 – 19:00 (local time)
The drivers will share testing duties with time spread equally between both drivers – all line-ups are listed below and we will update as and when we get the information – to ensure a fair distribution between day/night practice as well as tyre compounds.
Given the later running time, we will see the cars take to the track at night for the first time this season. Get ready for sparks to fly!
Mercedes
The silver arrows took the Barcelona test in their stride. With a massive 392 laps completed, no noticeable reliability issues and a 1-2 on Friday’s time sheets, the eight-time world champions are on top form coming into Bahrain. However, it may be worth noting that rumours have been circulating that the car Mercedes bring to Bahrain will be vastly different to what we saw in Barcelona – some even claiming there will be no side pods on the car at all. We’ll keep an eye out for that one.
THU AM – Hamilton
THU PM – Russell
FRI AM – Russell
FRI PM – Hamilton
SAT – TBC
Red Bull
Red Bull’s time in Barcelona was largely smooth sailing, besides a gear box issue on day two which cost Sergio Perez a considerable amount of run time. Having seemed relatively pleased with his 2022 car, reigning champ Max Verstappen has already hinted that the car we see in Bahrain will be completely different to what was at Barcelona. He also stressed that lap times, in Barcelona and Bahrain, won’t be considered representative for any team and shouldn’t been looked into too closely:
“I don’t know, I don’t really pay attention to the lap times yet; we will look into that in Q3 in Bahrain.”
THU AM/PM – Perez
FRI AM/PM – Verstappen
SAT AM – Perez
SAT PM – Verstappen
Ferrari
Could this be Ferrari’s comeback year? Barcelona saw Sainz and Leclerc rack up the highest tally of laps (439 total), top the time sheets on day two and suffer no reliability issues. Granted it is early days and the F1-75 hasn’t been on track in a competitive setting, but all the signs are looking very positive.
Ferrari boss Binotto says that Barcelona was more of a data collection activity and although the car itself will not be too different in Bahrain,:
“We will all, I believe, try to simulate some race situations, quali simulations and we will try to extract some performance from the car itself. Certainly, in Bahrain, I think it will be more the performance; the relative competitiveness of the teams will be more clear.”
THU AM – Leclerc
THU PM – Sainz
FRI AM – Leclerc
FRI PM – Sainz
SAT – TBC
McLaren
In Barcelona, McLaren hit the ground running with Norris topping the timesheets at the end of day 1 and a total of 365 laps under their belt as a team. The ever smiling honey badger, aka Daniel Ricciardo, also seemed back to himself, after a rocky start to his McLaren campaign, reflecting on their time at Barcelona as:
“Overall, a pretty flawless three days for the team, a really awesome start to the season.”
We’ve got high hopes for the papaya team this season.
THU AM/PM – Norris
FRI – TBC
SAT – TBC
Alpine
After a poor start in Barcelona, we’re hoping we get to see a true representation of the A522’s potential this time round. A hydraulic leak on the Friday session meant the team had to cut their test short and miss out on running low fuel, soft tyres and all wet weather practise. Fernando Alonso in particular will be looking to get some decent laps in, after just 12 completed on the final day in Barcelona.
THU AM – Ocon
THU PM – Alonso
FRI AM/PM – Ocon
SAT – TBC
Alpha Tauri
Alpha Tauri are another team that had to end their Friday running prematurely. A shunt from Gasly, halfway through the morning session, meant the car didn’t make it back out of the garage and left Tsunoda with no afternoon or wet weather running.
THU AM/PM – Gasly
FRI AM/PM – Tsunoda
SAT AM – Gasly
SAT PM- Tsunoda
Aston Martin
Barcelona was a mixed bag for the Aston Martin team. A near perfect first two days allowed for plenty of laps, although an oil leak on the Friday meant the team had to cut their test short, leaving Stroll short of laps and no wet weather running. We suspect the Canadian will be keen to play catch up when he hits the track this week.
THU AM – Vettel
THU PM – Stroll
FRI AM- Vettel
FRI PM – Stroll
SAT AM – Stroll
SAT PM – Vettel
Williams
Barcelona couldn’t have gone more perfect for the Grove team – plenty of laps, positive show of reliability and ample practice in wet weather running for both drivers. Whilst Barcelona was focused on learning about the cars’ reliability, the head of vehicle performance at Williams has said that in Bahrain:
“We seek to push the performance of the FW44 forwards as well as ensuring that the car is fully race ready for the season ahead.”
We can only hope the Bahrain test goes just as smoothly for the team before Alex Albon makes his debut as a William’s driver.
THU AM/PM – Albon
FRI AM/PM – Latifi
SAT AM – Latifi
SAT PM – Albon
Alfa Romeo
Testing this week will be crucial for Alfa Romeo. The team fell foul of several reliability problems in Barcelona, meaning Bottas and Zhou clocked very few laps – Bottas just 54 across the whole three days. However this doesn’t seem to concern rookie Guanyu Zhou who says:
“I am confident we can make up the time we lost and be fully ready for the season ahead.”
Time will tell. This will also be the first time we see the real C42 livery on track after Alfa took to Barcelona in a camouflage livery, only to reveal the real deal just a few days later.
THU AM – Zhou
THU PM – Bottas
FRI AM – Bottas
FRI PM – Zhou
SAT – TBC
Haas
Haas may be an interesting watch this week. After reliability and mechanical issues on each day of the Barcelona test, they are definitely playing catch up. However, freight delays earlier on in the week have meant that they will not be participating in the first session of testing. One factor that may be in their favour comes after a shock announcement today that Kevin Magnussen would return for the 2022 season, as viewers will eagerly await the return of K-MAG to the track and see what performance he can get from the VF-22.
Whilst it was initially thought Fittipaldi and Schumacher would be splitting testing, after Magnussen’s appointment, team principle, Guenther Steiner, has said
“Pietro’s going to be first in this week with half a day’s running at the test on Thursday – that’s a great opportunity for him, with Mick and Kevin doing the rest ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.”
THU PM -Fittipald
FRI AM – Schumacher
FRI PM – Magnussen
SAT – TBC
How to watch
Unlike in Barcelona, all the on-track action in Barcelona will be broadcast on a variety of platforms. For UK viewers, you can watch things unfold on SkySportsF1 with:
Session 1 – 6:50 to 11:10 am
Session 2 – 11:50 to 4:10pm
Ted’s Notebook – 7:00 to 7:30pm.
For non-UK viewers, check your local F1 broadcaster for all the info relative to your region.
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