What are the basics ahead of the 2024 F1 pre-season test?

F1 returns this week with the annual three-day pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, in the same country the circuit is named after. 

Consisting of eight-hours of running per day, in two four-hour slots, the drivers and teams will be able to get acclimated to their machinery ahead of the 2024 season. 

So what are some things that you should expect from the pre-season test?

One car, one driver

Whilst the more seasoned Formula One fans will understand, and be aware of, the teams will only be able to run one car and as such one driver per session. 

At times, these drivers will get a full day of running whereas some may share their driving duties across the day with one driver in the morning and switching other to the other in the afternoon. 

Long runs

With mileage at a premium, due to the restricted testing, the teams will likely complete long runs through the day focusing on the aero-packages and reliability of their machinery. 

Although the teams and drivers will enjoy the lower fuel runs and quicker tyres to put in the faster lap times, the fastest lap times shouldn’t be taken as gospel. The car development race will likely impact the pecking order throughout the season. 

‘Sandbagging’

In addition to the previous point, teams will keep their cards very close to their chest throughout testing. More well known as ‘sandbagging,’ teams may hide their overall pace and effectiveness of their package. 

With testing, the teams will not be aware of what their competitor fuel levels are as well as other performance-impacting factors and as such may hide their true performance level ahead of the first race of the season, a week later.

New aero components 

Ahead of the upcoming season, testing provides the teams with a great platform to test out new parts for 2024 or how their upgrades over the winter impact their cars. 

Due to the tests, the teams may run the gridded sideboards fitted to the front, side or rear of their cars, allowing the engineers to analyse how the air is impacted. 

Teams opting to release digital renders of their 2024 championship contenders may shock fans with new and all-improved upgrades, like Mercedes did when they revealed the zero-pod concept in 2022.

F1’s pre-season test gets underway in Bahrain 7am to 4pm GMT on February 21 to 23, a one-hour break will split the two sessions across the three days. 

That’s all for the article; What are the basics ahead of the 2024 F1 pre-season test?

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Red Bull complete F1 car launch with RB20
• Mercedes showcase striking W15 as team look to chase down Red Bull
• McLaren pull covers off 2024 F1 contender MCL-38
• Ferrari reveal SF-24 ahead of F1 2024 season
• Aston Martin reveal AMR24 as they hunt for their ‘first win in green’
• 3 bold predictions for F1 2024 season

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.