After a prolonged break, Formulation One is again. In some methods it looks like a very long time in the past that the curtain fell on the season at Abu Dhabi, however in different methods it feels actually lengthy.
In contrast to final yr, when the laws modified considerably, that is the one check earlier than the primary grand prix of the yr. That runs on March 5 at the exact same Bahrain observe the place this week’s three-day check takes place.
Though there are few adjustments to the laws this yr, testing is at all times a time of each fear and pleasure for the groups and drivers. Who shall be most excited? It is arduous to say. There are a number of groups who will really feel deflated if they do not expertise an uptick in efficiency: notably Mercedes and Ferrari.
Purple Bull, specifically Max Verstappen was dominant final yr, successful 17 races in complete. Ferrari received 4 and Mercedes only one. If there may be to be hope of a aggressive championship then these groups want to start out off on the entrance foot. In equity to Ferrari, they began final season on the entrance foot however then imploded via numerous errors.
As ever, testing by no means provides a full image of a group’s woes or joys but it surely does go some method to indicating how they begin the season. Hopefully we can have a clearer thought of how issues are shaping up over the subsequent three days.
In the meantime, in driver information, Formulation Two champion Felipe Drugovich will drive for Aston Martin rather than the injured Lance Stroll when Formulation One for the primary check.
Aston Martin stated Tuesday that Drugovich will begin testing within the morning session Thursday in Bahrain earlier than Stroll’s team-mate Fernando Alonso takes over for the afternoon. The schedule for Friday and Saturday was “to be confirmed,” the group added.
Drugovich is one in every of two reserve drivers at Aston Martin, together with former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
The Brazilian-Italian driver received the F2 title final yr and drove for Aston Martin in observe on the last race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi in November.
The primary session of the three-day check will get below means at 7am and we shall be right here for all of it, with lap instances and newest updates.
