Your guide to pre-season testing in Bahrain
Following the hype and glamour of Formula 1’s prestigious F175 Live launch at London’s O2 Arena last week, the focus now shifts to Bahrain, where the on-track action begins in earnest from Wednesday.
This will mark the start of the official pre-season test, where the BWT Alpine Formula One Team - along with the other nine outfits - will put their new cars through their paces for the first time across three days of running.
Each day features two four-hour track sessions, separated by a one-hour lunch break. Running begins at 10am local time, and with track time limited - this being the only test teams are allowed before the first race - the Bahrain International Circuit has been the preferred testing venue for several years. Its reliably warm, dry conditions and the ability to continue running after sunset under floodlights until 7pm make it an ideal location for pre-season preparations.
Teams typically split their on-track running between both drivers, as regulations dictate that only one car can run at a time. This means both Pierre and Jack are likely to get a chance to sample the new A525 chassis on each of the three days. As a rough guide, in last year’s pre-season Bahrain test, Pierre completed 61 laps on the first day, followed by 33 and 47 laps on the following two days. In total, the Alpine team logged 334 laps with last year’s A524.
The primary purpose of the test is to ensure the new car performs as predicted. With a host of changes compared to last year’s model, the test provides an opportunity to trial new parts and to correlate on-track data with wind tunnel results and computer simulations. This is often achieved by bolting a frame onto the front or rear of the car - known as an aero rake - and applying flo-viz paint, a fluorescent mix of paint and oil, to visualise airflow. Aerodynamic data is then collected via pitot tubes that measure air pressure.
After two months out of the cockpit and with only simulator sessions for preparation, testing is also a crucial chance for our race drivers to get back up to speed before heading to Melbourne for the first Grand Prix of the year. Both Pierre and Jack will follow various testing programmes, trying different tyre compounds and fuel loads. Towards the end of the test, some teams may attempt a low-fuel ‘glory run.’ Others, however, might opt to disguise their true performance by deliberately adding ballast - a tactic known as ‘sandbagging’.
While all teams will be running their new cars - and rivals will be closely examining each other’s developments - it’s common for even more upgrades to arrive in time for the first race. This makes it difficult to determine the competitive order, especially as fuel loads remain unknown. Outright lap times are not necessarily indicative of the fastest car. That will only become clear when qualifying gets underway in Australia in a fortnight’s time. Click here to follow on Social.
