What to expect from F1 testing 2021

Nearly 14 weeks after Formula 1 departed, the championship is returning to Bahrain this week.

The action-packed 2020 Sahkir Grand Prix will be followed by the track’s first pre-season F1 testing running in seven years, with this week’s three-day event returning to the traditional layout that will be used for the 2021 season-opening Bahrain GP (28 March).

The effect of F1’s coronavirus cost-saving measure has been seen throughout this year’s launch season, with the car designs largely carried over. At teams where no livery change has been made, the resemblances are particularly striking. This approach also meant a reduction in testing overall, with this week’s event the only chance the teams have to fully trial their 2021 challengers ahead of the first race.

The knock-ons keep coming. As there is only one 2021 pre-season test, many teams opted to hide various important elements of the cars during their launches – a subterfuge aimed at reducing the scope for rivals to copy neat solutions (particularly regarding the new rear floor requirements) in time for the Bahrain race in two weeks’ time.

PLUS: What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16 launch

Mercedes’ technical director James Allison openly stated that the world champion squad has already spent its two allotted design development tokens, but openly said it “won't reveal how we used them just yet”. Red Bull held a filming day at Silverstone after its 2021 launch, but only released images of its 2019 car running on track. So, the question is, what are F1’s leading team’s hiding?

Mercedes W12 F1 team launch

Photo by: Mercedes

The token restriction requirements suggest that a double diffuser-like gamechanger is unlikely, but as the changes to the floors are aimed at cutting downforce levels by 10%, any team that has found a clever solution to negate or overcome that impact stands to gain significantly. Therefore, expect plenty of camera lenses pointed at the backs of the W12 and RB16B when they emerge from their respective garages on day one of testing.

Mercedes has outlined how the changes to the floor rules, although minor compared to the regulation overhaul now coming for 2022, could turn into a major problem for teams that don’t adapt successfully.

It’s unlikely that any squad will openly admit to getting this wrong once testing has been completed – Red Bull insisted that the succession of spins its drivers suffered in testing last year was about finding the limit, an explanation that later became an inherent aerodynamic issue a few races into the delayed 2020 season – but it will be worth listening to the drivers describe the rear handling characteristics of their latest cars for clues regarding the squads that may have lost out.

While the changes under the various car skins will be naturally covered up, several teams have already stated their intention to introduce early aerodynamic updates this year

Sergio Perez has joined Red Bull to replace Alex Albon, who could not match team-mate Max Verstappen’s pace and results with the recalcitrant RB16. Now the RB16B, it will be worth paying close attention to Perez’s fortunes over the test, as the limited scope for design changes suggest the updated version will still be tough to tame.

Perez has already said Red Bull’s car concept is “quite different” to what he has previously experienced and its worth recalling how Pierre Gasly had a massive testing crash two years ago as his short-lived Red Bull tenure began to unfold. That’s not to say Perez will encounter such problems, but he has been hired to close the gap to Verstappen and this test will give Red Bull its first indications of his full suitability for the job.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Just like last year, anyone following testing will want to keep a close eye on the speed trap figures.

These will provide an early indication of how successful Honda’s ambition to leave F1 on a championship-winning high may be, while also stimulating/deflating hopes at several other squads, namely those running Ferrari engines.

In 2020, the Scuderia’s dramatic downfall in the power stakes was eventually explained by its design “settlement” with the FIA, but just how much it was losing was evident from early in testing. The power deficit meant Alfa Romeo and Haas took significant steps back last year, so there will be plenty of people hoping that Ferrari’s cautious recent optimism about its redesigned engine translates into real-world gains.

Engine performance is also a theme to watch at Mercedes, particularly regarding the health of the W12’s powerplants. Last month, Mercedes’ engine boss Hywel Thomas said the manufacturer had “got some issues with the power units”, although he then explained the steps Mercedes had taken to fix these – including changing the engine block alloy and tweaking the Energy Recovery System – when the W12 was launched.

PLUS: Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?

But, again, last year Mercedes made similar noises about its engine, which then encountered a series of reliability problems across the pre-season (at both the works squad and at Williams) and it subsequently emerged that the problems were severe enough that they could’ve wreaked havoc on Mercedes’ results had the 2020 campaign started on time and it took the time afforded by the initial pandemic lockdowns to address the issues.

While the changes under the various car skins will be naturally covered up, several teams have already stated their intention to introduce early aerodynamic updates this year. That’s not unusual for the big squads, but, with the 2022 reset looming large, many teams are intending to apply developments during the initial races then quickly shift resources.

Alfa Romeo is among the teams set to conduct early performance evaluations with an eye to switching focus early, with testing the first step in these trials, while Williams has “a range of parts that we’ll get on the car” in testing, per team principal Simon Roberts, which could become a “first race upgrade”.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

Photo by: Aston Martin

It’s always vital to avoid unnecessary accidents, but this year, with pre-season track time reduced by 50%, it will be even more critical that drivers don’t crash their new cars.

Staying on the road will be particularly important for the rookies at AlphaTauri and Haas, as well as the drivers making new starts (Perez, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr, Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren and Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin, plus Fernando Alonso’s return to what is now Alpine).

The times will ultimately be meaningless this weekend, but pre-season testing means racing is just around the corner

PLUS: The big F1 questions of 2021

Alonso, who missed Alpine’s team launch due to the current COVID travel restrictions for UK arrivals and has been recovering from his cycling accident last month, is never one to shy away from making his views known publicly, so it will be worth listening to his thoughts on the state of play at the former Renault squad.

Additionally, expect the drivers to have gripes relating to the new tyres (because some things in F1 never change!) and be asked about the ongoing discussion on Saturday sprint races, where opinions are split.

The times will ultimately be meaningless this weekend, but pre-season testing means racing is just around the corner. After a long, hard winter for so many, that alone is a reason to get excited.

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

Photo by: McLaren Racing