F1 2023 - Pre Season Testing

[chrismscotland]

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!)

 

[chrismscotland]

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

 

[chrismscotland]

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.

 

[chrismscotland]

Looking like echoes of last season so far but really nothing will be properly known until Q3 is done in Bahrain next weekend.
Aston Martin seem to be the only team that looks like they've made a decent step, not that it would be hard given how dire their car was at the start of last season.
McLaren look poor again, not exactly enhancing their chances of keeping hold of Lando Norris long term....