Following the shakedown week in Barcelona, tomorrow in Bahrain sees the start of the first pre-season Formula 1 test, which will provide teams with the opportunity to further their understanding of these new cars built to conform to the technical regulations that come into force this year.
The Sakhir circuit hosts the first three days from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 February, with a further three from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 February. Cars can run on track from 10 am to 2 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm. Over the course of the six days, all Pirelli slick compounds will be available for testing, though not all at the same time.
For the three days of the first pre-season test, teams can only run the C1, C2 and C3 slick compounds. They can use up to 28 sets of dry weather tires, while one set of Cinturato Intermediates will also be available to them.
For the second session, from 18 to 20 February, the full range of compounds from C1 to C5 will be available, each team able to use a maximum of 24 sets. No wet weather tires will be supplied for the second session, but teams can carry over sets previously fitted at the first session, including used sets that have done no more than nine laps.
As in the past, teams have a free choice regarding the number of sets of each compound, within the maximum number permitted for each test and in accordance with the selection rules set for the first session.
In order to facilitate identifying the different compounds during these two test sessions, the logo on the C1 and C2 will be white, those on the C3 and C4 yellow, while the softest C5 will be red. In addition, the sidewall on the C1, C3 and C5 will feature a checkered flag in the banding, while the C2 and C4 will only bear the Pirelli and P Zero logos, with no additional markings.
Over the next three days, when only the first three slicks in the range will be used, there will therefore be two with white markings and one with yellow. The C1 and C2 can be identified because the latter will not have any banding, and the C3 will have yellow marking and banding. This identification system is only in use for these tests and will not be seen on race weekends.
Bahrain Test 1 Tires
Bahrain Test 1 Tires