F1 2023 - Pre Season Testing

chrismscotland · 20 Feb 2023 at 11:25

The (very) limited 2023 pre-season testing kicks off this Thursday at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Driver Line-ups aren't fully confirmed yet but I'll update as the week goes on and these are announced - as of today though these are below:

Red Bull

Thursday: Verstappen
Friday Perez/Verstappen
Saturday: Perez

Ferrari
Thursday: Sainz/Leclerc:
Friday: TBC
Saturday: TBC

Mercedes
Thursday: Russell / Hamilton
Friday: Hamilton / Russell
Saturday: Russell / Hamilton

Alpine
TBC

McLaren
TBC

Alfa Romeo
TBC

Aston Martin
TBC

Haas
Thursday: Hulkenberg/Magnussen
Friday: Magnussen/Hulkenberg
Saturday: Hulkenberg/Magnussen

AlphaTauri
Thursday: Tsunoda/De Vries
Friday: Tsunoda/De Vries
Saturday: De Vries/Tsunoda

Williams
TBC

TV Coverage:

Sky Sports F1 UK TV Coverage (UK Timing)

Thursday 23 February

Session One - 06:50am-11am
Session Two - 11:50am-4:30pm
Testing Wrap - 8pm-8:30pm
Ted's Testing Notebook - 8:30pm-9pm

Friday 24 February

Session One - 06:50am-11am
Session Two - 11:50am-4:30pm
Testing Wrap - 8pm-8:30pm
Ted's Testing Notebook - 8:30pm-9pm

Saturday 25 February

Session One - 06:50am-11am
Session Two - 11:50am-4:30pm
Testing Wrap - 8pm-8:30pm
Ted's Testing Notebook - 8:30pm-9pm

Obviously its also on F1TV Pro if your a subscriber (or have ever consistently got it to work in the UK!)

Feek · 20 Feb 2023 at 11:29

Thanks for posting this

Coverage on Sky each day is from 06:50 to 11:15 and then 12:10 to 16:35 with a wrap programme at 20:00 and a testing notebook at 20:30.

Yaayuh! · 20 Feb 2023 at 11:40

itshappening.gif

Steeps · 20 Feb 2023 at 15:41

Stroll is out of testing due to a training accident. Will Alonso do all 3 days or will they hand the car over to Drugovich/Vandoorne?

413x · 20 Feb 2023 at 16:00

Is the first race 2 weeks away?

I'm wondering how grumpy alonso will get if the alpine is really good and Aston really bad

Most looking forward to alpine vs mclaren. The chatter I've read is that mclaren isn't great. But they have what most would consider a better driver pair. Hope its a battle.

chrismscotland · 20 Feb 2023 at 17:10

Steeps said:
Stroll is out of testing due to a training accident. Will Alonso do all 3 days or will they hand the car over to Drugovich/Vandoorne?

I'd expect to see a reserve do at least some it, but we all know Alonso will want as much mileage as he can get

uscool · 20 Feb 2023 at 19:55

Looking forward to watching the testing getting hyped now it's getting closer

Kevin Clark · 20 Feb 2023 at 21:10

There's an extra TV show on Sky F1 Saturday 9.00-9.30 Ted's Development Corner.

Mr Jack · 20 Feb 2023 at 21:33

Steeps said:
Stroll is out of testing due to a training accident. Will Alonso do all 3 days or will they hand the car over to Drugovich/Vandoorne?

Can Alonso do it all? Are there rules about who drives?

chrismscotland · 20 Feb 2023 at 23:37

Mr Jack said:
Can Alonso do it all? Are there rules about who drives?

There doesn't appear to be - 2x sessions a day and the teams seem able to use whoever they want.

JRS · 21 Feb 2023 at 15:04

Putting this here because I reckon the test sessions will dictate which way they go - Merc reportedly planning a 'Plan B' car if the zero pod design philosophy doesn't come good.

~Mike~ · 21 Feb 2023 at 19:17

McLaren must have a special floor seeing how they've blurred it out in the video below.

FIRST LOOK: MCL60 Track Debut

Watch and listen as Lando Norris drives the MCL60 for the first time in Bahrain.#ForeverForwardJoin McLaren Plus, our fan engagement programme which brings M...

youtu.be

Dup · 21 Feb 2023 at 21:52

There's photos of the floor on Reddit:

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

Looks a bit odd, but given the quality of the photos it could be anything. Does look like the floor has some radical shape.

Hawk Tuah · 21 Feb 2023 at 22:04

Mr Jack said:
Can Alonso do it all? Are there rules about who drives?

Didn't Lando do it all last season for McLaren as DR got COVID.

turbot1984 · 22 Feb 2023 at 00:43

F1 Drive to Survive series 5 on this week, the 'inside track' on F1 a year behind, or just more veiled marketing? If I see Mr & Mrs Horner on horses again that's it.

Mr Jack · 22 Feb 2023 at 08:07

Bug One said:
Didn't Lando do it all last season for McLaren as DR got COVID.

Er, I think so? Good point.

But, in any case, Drugovich will take Stroll's place. Which is good, I think, I'd like to see what he can do.

Hawk Tuah · 22 Feb 2023 at 11:23

Has the real RB19 been spotted yet?

Feek · 22 Feb 2023 at 22:36

Just a few hours to go.

Stu999 · 22 Feb 2023 at 22:39

Feek said:
Just a few hours to go.

You have to take a shot of alcohol of your choice each time one of those bingo items happens.

Hawk Tuah · 23 Feb 2023 at 07:05

So, the RB19 looks almost the same as least season, just a bit more dramatic.

Seems all the teams have stuck to evolving their existing concepts.