There is only one day left before the start of pre-season testing: from tomorrow until Friday, teams will take to the track trying to better understand the new single-seater and what their starting point is at the start of the season. The tests will be held in Sakhir, Bahrain, on the circuit that has hosted pre-season testing since 2021. Thanks to our magnifying glass, we analyze what the key points of this very important session will be.
A Red Bull to find again
After a complicated 2024, which led to the loss of the constructors' championship, the Austrian team must hope that the new RB21 will be better. The RB20's problems have been obvious: Max Verstappen has repeatedly blamed himself with a single-seater that is difficult to drive and keep on the road, with the Dutchman having to modify some aspects of his driving; much more obvious difficulties have been experienced by Sergio Perez, who has been unable to interpret the single-seater all season.
This has caused a considerable loss of points in the world rankings, with the outsiders advancing (and not a little) over the Milton Keynes team. The team has spent the winter working hard: will we find a Red Bull with a different footing?
How will the rookies perform?
The tests will be a big test for the new Rookies on the grid: the new recruits will have to run as many laps as possible to get familiar with the single-seater without making any serious mistakes that could jeopardize their session. While it is true that on the one hand the season will only start from March 14 (thus beginning to battle on the track), on the other hand these three days in Bahrain will be a great starting point for these youngsters as they begin their great adventure in F1.
Eyes on the Red 44
As early as last season there was no shortage of predictions about what Lewis Hamilton's season at Ferrari would be like, and to date that has preoctively increased. Despite the opportunities he had at Fiorano and in Spain (with past single-seaters) to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, these tests for Hamilton will be his first major approach to his single-seater, the SF-25. It will be a great opportunity to understand how the seven-time world champion feels about the car and how the team can help him so that he can only improve his feeling.
Champions return to the track
McLaren returns to Bahrain as World Champions, and expectations about what the MCL39 will hold are very high. While the motto “let's wait for the start of the season” also applies to the British team, the Sahkir track will be a key indicator of the new car, to better prepare it for the first race, the Australian GP: will we see a competitive McLaren right from testing or will it try to hide from its rivals?
Testing the first waltzes
After the London event held last Feb. 18, not all teams have run their first laps with the new single-seaters at their “home” tracks. Only Haas, Williams, Ferrari, McLaren, and Racing Bulls have completed several kilometers with the new car, while the remaining teams have taken different routes: Mercedes and Aston Martin took to the track in yesterday's event just at Sahkir, while Sauber, Alpine, and Red Bull will wait until tomorrow to discover the first sensations emanating from their single-seaters.
An unusual aspect, which in past seasons had not yet happened on such a large scale.So this year's testing will be more crucial than ever, expect a lot of activity on the track. Time is running out, see you tomorrow for the start of the pre-season tests of which the Formula1.it editorial staff will carry out live text to give you step by step all the information you need to know!
