Formula 1 pre-season testing 2023: everything you need to know ahead of InNewCL Sports’ live coverage from Bahrain

Editor February 17, 2023

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#Formula #preseason #testing #ahead #Sky #Sports #live #coverage #Bahrain Welcome to InNewCL, here is the new story we have for you today:

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The 2023 Formula 1 season is upon us, but before the first race of the new season there are three crucial pre-season testing days.

After a series of lavish car launches, including Red Bull in New York City and Alpine in a London nightclub, it’s time to act.

The sport’s 10 teams will unreservedly unleash their new challengers for the first time and see if the months of preparation have paid off.

All three test days and all 23 races of the greatest Formula 1 season of all time can be seen live on InNewCL Sports F1.

What is pre-season testing?

Formula 1 teams spend many months developing a car but are given very specific and limited opportunities to put it on the track before they start racing.

Allowed testing time has been progressively reduced over the years to just three days, along with two 15km demonstrations and two 100km promotional events where strict restrictions prevent teams from gathering vast amounts of information.

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The twists and turns of F1 are back. Enjoy the ride live on InNewCL Sports. The season starts on March 3rd!

While an additional three-day test in Barcelona was added ahead of the 2022 season following the introduction of radically new design regulations, this year there is the return of a one-off three-day event.

The sessions are designed to allow teams to iron out major issues before the start of the season, offering a vital chance to ensure the cars are reliable when pushed to their limits and averting the possibility of a series of mechanical failures and failures in the opening race .

As teams build reliability, they can begin to refine their setups and make adjustments to get the maximum possible performance while also working out where they can improve ahead of the inaugural race, which in this case takes place just eight days later. should focus on improvement.

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Former F1 world champion Jenson Button expects Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes to all be battling for the drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2023.

When and where is the test carried out?

The tests will take place in Bahrain for three consecutive days beginning on Thursday 23 February and ending on Saturday 25 February.

Each day is divided into two sessions, the first of which begins at 7:00 GMT (10:00 local time) and lasts four hours.

There is then an hour’s rest before the cars return to the track at 12:00 GMT (15:00 local time), with the second session lasting four and a half hours and continuing beyond sunset, mirroring the stunning night time conditions of the season’s opening race take place.

The Bahrain International Circuit provides a stunning backdrop for pre-season testing

The Bahrain International Circuit makes sense as a testing venue as it hosts the inaugural race on the F1 calendar, which takes place on March 5 this year.

The Sakhir track has both long straights and challenging tight corners, giving teams the opportunity to test different aspects of their cars.

The heat of the day, along with likely gusts of wind that will blow sand across the track, presents drivers and engineers with additional challenges.

What’s new about the cars?

While there’s no overhaul of the rules for next year like there will be for 2022, there are subtle changes to the rules and cars that teams can use.

Most notable is a higher ride height. This essentially lifts the cars higher off the ground to reduce the hopping “porpoise” phenomenon that afflicted teams – Mercedes in particular – in 2022.

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Mercedes is launching the W14 in hopes it will have the right “DNA” to challenge for the Formula 1 title in 2023.

This is done by raising the base rim and neck, while the diffuser rim has also been stiffened. There is also an additional sensor to monitor porpoises effectively.

While these are mainly for safety reasons and are expected to cost teams time initially due to a stiffer ground, it could also narrow the field with a higher ride height believed to have been key to Red Bull and Ferrari’s cars for 2023 .

The other changes to the cars revolve around banning designs like Aston Martin’s rear wing and Mercedes’ front wing from 2023, as well as other safety additions.

For example, the roll bars were reinforced after Zhou Guanyu’s dramatic fall at Silverstone last year.

What should you pay attention to?

You will only see one car from each team on the track during each session, limiting traffic on the circuit. Most teams give their two drivers a session each day, but some may choose to split time differently or give reserve drivers run time.

The cars can run as much as they like in each session and have access to all five Pirelli tire compounds used throughout the season.

Teams will use Flow-Vis fluorescent paints to test their cars

You’ll likely see teams ruining the wonderful designs of their new liveries with fluorescent Flow-Vis paint, which is used to visualize airflow over the car’s bodywork.

Another noticeable feature you’ll see are aerodynamic rakes, which are fitted with sensors designed to measure flow structures outside the body, or simply put, where the air is going after it hits certain parts of the car.

Both tools allow teams to gain a better understanding of their cars and potentially make further improvements, whether in the form of upgrades or just setup.

Aerodynamic rakes are used in testing to collect data

The time sheet should be used with caution, especially in the initial phase of the three days. Some drivers may focus on longer runs or testing a certain aspect of their car, while others try to set faster laps.

Then there’s also the inevitable “sandbagging” where teams don’t want to reveal their true pace to their rivals before the opening race.

There will be plenty of interest in how reigning champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team are progressing alongside their most likely challengers, Ferrari and Mercedes, who are hoping to provide Lewis Hamilton with a car capable of turning around to fight for the eighth drivers’ title.

How to observe and track tests

You can follow every minute of pre-season testing live on InNewCL Sports F1, along with a daily summary and a special testing edition from Ted’s Notebook.

The full TV schedule is as follows:

Thursday 23 February

Session One – 06:50-11:00
Session 2 – 11:50am – 4:30pm
Test pack – 20:00-20:30
Ted’s Test Notebook – 8:30pm – 9:00pm

Friday February 24th

Session One – 06:50-11:00
Session 2 – 11:50am – 4:30pm
Test pack – 20:00-20:30
Ted’s Test Notebook – 8:30pm – 9:00pm

Saturday February 25th

Session One – 06:50-11:00
Session 2 – 11:50am – 4:30pm
Test pack – 20:00-20:30
Ted’s Test Notebook – 8:30pm – 9:00pm

There will also be regular updates during testing on InNewCL Sports News, with reporter Craig Slater in Bahrain keeping an eye on what’s going on on and off the track.

Finally, you can follow every moment of testing right here on the InNewCL Sports app and website, with a live blog bringing you updates and the best video.