When Is F1 Pre-Season Testing? Dates, Schedule and How to Watch

When is F1 pre-season testing? Dates and schedule

The 2023 F1 season is just around the corner, which means that the teams and drivers are gearing up for the official pre-season test. Ahead of the start of a new campaign, this is one of the most anticipated events, because of the excitement surrounding the start of a new season.

For teams and drivers, it is also a tense moment because the hard work they put in at the factories over the last few months will be put to check. The main focus for teams lies in getting as many laps under their belt as possible, as it allows them to gather data.

The teams then use this data to chalk out their strengths and weaknesses, work on them and maximize their performance once the real action begins. Drivers too want as much track time as possible because they want to get used to the new cars that they will be driving for the rest of the season.

Also read: McLaren Honours the Legacy of Ayrton Senna On Their 2023 F1 Car

Where will 2023’s pre-season test be held?

For a long time, the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona was the ideal choice for teams when it came to testing. However, with the first round of the season being shifted to Bahrain, and the circuit’s similarity to Barcelona, the middle-eastern nation is now the venue for pre-season testing.

This will be the third year in a row that Bahrain International Circuit will play host to the official F1 pre-season test.

When is F1 pre-season testing?

This year, there will be only one pre-season test unlike last season. In 2022, both Barcelona and Bahrain hosted three days of testing each, but the former was treated more like a shakedown. Cameras and fans were not allowed on the track during the test which disappointed fans greatly.

In 2023, fans don’t have to deal with that disappointment anymore as there will be just one pre-season test in Bahrain that will be accessible to the public. The test will last for three days. It starts on 23rd February and ends on 25th February, a week before the F1 season officially begins.

Also read: Carlos Sainz Reveals Charles Leclerc’s Unusual Nickname During Ferrari SF-23 Shakedown

How long will the test be for?

Every team wants to spend as much time out on track as possible, and would love to do so without any interruptions or regulations. However, to make the playing field even for everyone, they have to strictly adhere to certain guidelines.

During the three days of F1 pre-season testing, each day will be divided into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The teams will want to have both their drivers behind the wheels of their new cars and will divide track time accordingly.

According to F1’s official website, the time allocated for testing is shown to be nine and a half hours for each of the three days. However, it is expected that the morning and afternoon sessions will be of four hours each with a gap of an hour and a half in between.

How to watch F1 testing?

Last year, there were two official tests before the season went underway. The first one, held in Barcelona was treated more like a shakedown, which meant that there was no live coverage on TV. The Bahrain pre-season test featured live coverage on Sky Sports and F1 TV.

In 2023, fans in the US can catch live action on F1 TV, whereas fans from UK can tune into Sky Sports once again. Those with Sky Sports’ subscription can watch the sport live on the SkyGo app.

2023 F1 Schedule:

Initially, F1 announced that the 2023 season will feature 24 races which would have made it the biggest campaign ever. The latter still stands correct, but we will be going ahead with 23 races, with the Chinese GP being cancelled for the third year in a row.

Here is the full 2023 F1 schedule:

1 Bahrain Grand Prix 5th March
2 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 19th March
3 Australian Grand Prix 2nd April
4 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 30th April
5 Miami Grand Prix 7th May
6 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 21st May
7 Monaco Grand Prix 28th May
8 Spanish Grand Prix 4th June
9 Canadian Grand Prix 18th June
10 Austrian Grand Prix 2nd July
11 British Grand Prix 9th July
12 Hungarian Grand Prix 23rd July
13 Belgian Grand Prix 30th July
14 Dutch Grand Prix 27th August
15 Italian Grand Prix 3rd September
16 Singapore Grand Prix 17th September
17 Japanese Grand Prix 24th September
18 Qatar Grand Prix 8th October
19 United States Grand Prix 22nd October
20 Mexico City Grand Prix 29th October
21 Sao Paolo Grand Prix 5th November
22 Las Vegas Grand Prix 18th November
23 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 26th November

Also read: Why Bahrain is Chosen Over Barcelona for F1 Pre-Season Testing?

2023 F1 Drivers and teams:

There have been quite a few changes in the driver line-up heading into the new season. Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season, which opened up one spot at Aston Martin.

This led to a domino effect and consequently, a series of changes among driving pairings on the grid.

Team Driver 1 Driver 2
Red Bull Max Verstappen Sergio Perez
Ferrari Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton George Russell
Alpine Pierre Gasly Esteban Ocon
McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri
Alfa Romeo Valtteri Bottas Guanyu Zhou
Haas Kevin Magnussen Nico Hulkenberg
Aston Martin Fernando Alonso Lance Stroll
AlphaTauri Yuki Tsunoda Nyck de Vries
Williams Alex Albon Logan Sargeant
Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
F1 Pre-season testing

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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