Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari F1-75
Autosport Plus

What each team must escape in testing to avoid setting off alarm bells

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As Formula 1 testing gets underway in Bahrain on Thursday, eagle-eyed observers will be keenly analysing the traits of every car. Here's what each team would be well-advised to avoid to ensure they don't head into the opening round on the back foot

As ever, it won’t be until qualifying for the Formula 1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix that the true competitive order for 2023 fully reveals itself. Differing fuel loads, engine modes, tyre ages and good old lifting-and-coasting will be sure to obscure the lap times during the three days of testing at the Middle Eastern circuit this week.

But there will still be plenty of gauges by which to measure the early credentials of the 10 new cars. Bahrain’s blend of corner speeds and camber changes will help expose unwieldy chassis while the climate will push marginal powertrain and brake cooling that brings about unreliability. Meanwhile, the crop of full-time rookies and those returning from stints on the sidelines will raise eyebrows should they induce a red flag or two.

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