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Formula 1 Bahrain February Testing

F1 Bahrain pre-season test - Day 1

Minute by minute updates on the opening day of the 2023 F1 Bahrain pre-season test

Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri AT04

Testing starts on Thursday 23 February at 07:00 GMT (10:00 local time) and runs until Saturday. All three days follow the same schedule, with running taking place from 10:00 until 14:15, and from 15:15 until 19:30 (all local time), pausing for a lunch break.

All 10 teams are set to be in action for the Bahrain pre-season test, which is the only pre-season test ahead of the 2023 season.

More: F1 Bahrain test driver line-up

The Bahrain pre-season test will take place on 23-25 February ahead of the 2023 F1 season opener at the same venue, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on 3-5 March.

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So, that's the opening hour complete. Isn't it good to have F1 cars back on track?
Stopwatch
Sainz with the flow-vis painted Ferrari goes quickest with a 1m33.767s, beating Verstappen's benchmark by 1.1s.
Ferrari is getting the party paint out. The mechanics are dousing the front suspension with bright yellow flow-vis paint ahead of Sainz's next run.
Breaking news
All F1 teams generally have the same aim in testing: Quick and reliable running. But what about points each team wants to avoid? Wonder no more: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/what-each-team-must-escape-in-testing-to-avoid-setting-off-alarm-bells/10435029/
 
The other car nobody really got to see during launch season was the AlphaTauri after it held a livery launch in New York. A splash of red from new sponsor Orlen is prominent, but what everyone really wants to see is the floor details.
Alpine newbie Gasly is following a similar start to Verstappen at Red Bull. Both are free of aero rigs and chipping away at the top times without much fuss.
Stopwatch
Verstappen has gone quicker already since the restart, putting in a 1m35.655s to set the standard so far. But, if we are honest, lap times aren't that relevant at this point. Just good to know, you know?
Aston's wounded car is back in the pits and being taken to the garage by the mechanics.
Nine cars are already back on track, the majority equipped with the aerodynamic testing rigs, so after a bit of a false start hopefully everyone can get cracking now.
Green flag
Russell takes station at pitlane exit ready for the green light to get testing going... again!
Track action will resume in three minutes.
The stricken Aston is on its way back to the paddock on the truck using the service roads, having been tied down and given a clock of invisibility. Also known as a big dark cover.
Obviously this is a nightmare start for Aston, but the delay to running due to the red flag will also hurt the other teams. Just three days of pre-season testing, remember, so losing just 30 minutes will compromise run plans.
The Aston has been lifted on to the back of a flatbed truck but with the extra bulk of the aero rigs on the rear of the car it is proving tricky cargo to lock down and transport back to the pits.
If you had nine minutes for the first red flag of testing in the sweepstake, well done to you. Drugovich is standing to attention next to the Aston, waiting for the track marshals to collect the car.
Drugovich didn't even get to the end of the first sector before he pulled to the side of the track and parked up. Certainly no driver issue, nor anything visibly wrong with the car, but he isn't going anywhere fast right now.
Red flag
Uh-oh, this isn't the start Drugovich and Aston Martin would have wanted. The Brazilian has stopped on track on his out-lap which has caused the first red flag.
Stopwatch
Verstappen, who else, leads the early lap times already. The two-time F1 world champion puts in a 1m37.780s to set the opening benchmark.
One driver who will be missing the entire test is Lance Stroll. A cycling accident earlier this week has ruled him out and Felipe Drugovich will stand-in for testing duties alongside Fernando Alonso.
Hulkenberg and Gasly have also made early outings, for Haas and Alpine respectively, so it means we are only missing the McLaren and the Aston Martin from the action.
Oddly a course car trundles down pitlane in front of the Red Bull before pulling to the side to allow Verstappen through. A reigning world champion's parade of sorts, even if not intentional.
Green flag
And here we go! Russell heads out followed by Zhou, Albon, Sainz and Tsunoda.
Russell is keen to get going - he's at pitlane exit waiting for the green light to start 2023 pre-season testing.

Here's who is in action on the first morning of the first day:

Red Bull – Verstappen
Ferrari – Sainz
Mercedes – Russell
Alpine – Gasly
McLaren – Piastri
Alfa Romeo – Zhou
Aston Martin – Alonso
Haas – Hulkenberg
AlphaTauri – Tsunoda
Williams – Albon

Breaking news
One of the teams to put on a soft launch was Red Bull - but no more! The RB19 has been fully revealed in the Bahrain pitlane ahead of the track action. Full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/red-bulls-new-rb19-formula-1-car-revealed/10435235/

Over the last few weeks each team has taken its part in launch season, to a varying degree, from New York fashion shows to a tifosi party at Fiorano. But that’s the past, this is now, and the serious matter of testing.

It has been 95 days since the chequered flag waved at the Abu Dhabi GP to signal the end of the 2022 F1 season. Now we're back, ready for another big one, starting with pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Testing, testing, 1-2, 1-2, is this thing on?

By: Autosport Staff

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