Formula one pre-season testing is upon us and this year.
Testing begins on Thursday the 23rd of February in Bahrain, the first time we will see cars out on track, and most likely see a few actually changes to the cars revealed at the teams car launches over the past few weeks!
The last few years it hasn't been possible to watch testing and being forced to follow along on Autosport didn't really have the same effect, but this year we are treated with pre-season testing being shown live on Sky Sports F1. The first show begins at 6:50am on Thursday the 23rd.
Pre season testing is a different affair in terms of watching value, we find it is best consumed as a background viewing to keep up with. While it is timed the times don't really mean too much nobody really reveals their hand with unknown fuel loads and set ups this is about getting the drivers familiarised and making sure the cars work as expected from simulations.
Reliability is the main thing to keep an eye out on and laps completed, time lost in these all day long test sessions really can impact how a team prepares for the season, as well as highlighting reliability issues which may prop up throughout the season.
Once teams are happy with reliability is when they begin to optimise and perfect set ups, of course with this test being in Bahrain one week before the first grand prix in Bahrain it is quite likely that information will be being stuffed in to get the teams ready for the first grand prix.
The day breakdown is 2 sessions one in the morning and one in the evening, beginning at 7am GMT, and 12pm GMT (10am and 4pm local time), the first session runs for 4 hours with the afternoon lasting 4 and a half hours.
There may not be so many changes except for the higher ride height, put in place to reduce the porpoising that affected some teams.
So the full schedule for the end of your week is as follows!
Thursday 23rd
A.M. Session 6:50am -11am
P.M Session 11:50am - 4:30pm
Testing Wrap 8pm - 8:30pm
Teds Notebook 8:30pm - 9pm
Friday 24th
A.M. Session 6:50am -11am
P.M Session 11:50am - 4:30pm
Testing Wrap 8pm - 8:30pm
Teds Notebook 8:30pm - 9pm
Saturday 25th
A.M. Session 6:50am -11am
P.M Session 11:50am - 4:30pm
Testing Wrap 8pm - 8:30pm
Teds Notebook 8:30pm - 9pm