Bahrain 2023 Testing February 23 - 25

Thanks Joe!

 

It's a good window of opportunity to show his skill for Drugovich, I hope he won't miss it.

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/russell-f1-should-allow-two-car-winter-tests/10434753/

Russell: F1 should allow two-car winter tests
Mercedes driver George Russell has suggested Formula 1 should allow teams to test with two cars in the future so that drivers can accrue sufficient mileage in their new cars.

By:Filip Cleeren
Feb 22, 2023, 11:30 AM

F1 testing was reduced from six to three days for 2021, with just three test days in Bahrain instead of two three-day tests in Barcelona.

For 2022, winter testing expanded to six days again, a one-off concession so teams could get more time to trial their brand-new machinery following a major rule change.

But this year the number of days has been limited to three once again, with testing taking place from Thursday to Saturday this week in Bahrain, the venue of the 2023 season opener.

That means each driver will only get one and a half days to get up to speed with the new cars, a figure which Mercedes driver and GPDA chairman Russell thinks is insufficient.

"Personally speaking, I don't think three days is enough, because you have got to remember from a driver's perspective, that is one and a half days per driver.

"We were fortunate to do the [Silverstone filming days] last week, but had we not, that would have been getting on for 12 weeks out of the car from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain.

"Could you imagine Rafael Nadal spending 12 weeks without hitting a ball and then going straight into the French Open with one and a half days of training? You know, it just wouldn't ever happen.

Testing was reducing to save money and reduce the workload on teams, but Russell suggested teams could start testing with two cars so that both drivers could get three days under their belt, while still sticking to a single test event.


"I understand and recognise why we do that. I think three days with two cars would probably be a good place to be," he argued.

"And I think that would probably be the best compromise for all of the reasons why we're trying to limit it but right now one and a half days per driver I think is too few."

Fernando Alonso, who has traded Alpine for Aston Martin, agreed with Russell and claimed the lack of testing could set him and other drivers changing teams back compared to their team-mates.

"This year we have only one day and a half testing in Bahrain, so I am aware that I will not be 100% in Bahrain, not in Jeddah, maybe not in Australia. So that's a little bit unfair, maybe," Alonso said.

"I think that is the only sport in the world that you do one day and a half a practice and then you play a world championship. There is no other sport in the world [that does that]."

 

His Nadal analogy doesn't work. That's assuming everyone Nadal plays tennis against, does get to practice, and they just hold Nadal in shackles until 2 days before. In F1's case, it's quite literally the same for everyone.

20 cars on track all driving different programs doesn't work either, you probably actually lose more data due to too much interference.

Car trouble perhaps? Need more data? Rumors of a not so very good Merc have been coming last few days...

 

You need to be in Italy to watch or have VPN.

 

Comparing times is not going to be easy, considering there are a ton of different tires on test:

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3 days of testing is an absolute nonsense !

 

i

Most test session are not traffic jams. I fully agree with this. Simply based on the fact that drivers get so little time to test to begin with. Nothing to do with a potential bad Mercedes lol. Even FA agree's. Its simple utter COMMON SENSE>

 

No need, retired!

 

What I find funny is drivers moaning about a too long racing calendar but then moan that the testing isn't long enough? They should learn to make up their minds.

I do think with just 3 days scheduled, they could've simply made it 5. Monday to friday, job done.

 

He should throw that in the trash

 

It's not my favourite design...

 

So, it is 7:08 am in Bahrain. This is the BIG DAY? Well according to the F1 official website, today is a big nothing burger, filled with stuff that should have been done weeks ago in open testing and with test drivers. The odds are, if the cars get through these 3 days, it means no more than a pre-delivery inspection on your family sedan. The "data" for the teams will barely be able to help them make any decisions that relate to racing for the wins and the championship. The first three races will be complete shams and they should not be awarding points for any of them. This is the most disappointing beginning to a season that I can ever remember.

 

F1 not the 'Pinnacle" of testing lol - just a touch absurd!! A full 5 days testing cannot be unreasonable to have. A world awash in wealth and the "pinnacle" lives in ridiculous austerity!!!!!!!!!!!!

Raise the budget limit by 25mil and have REASONABLE testing so a team can RACE!!