Four days will be tested at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. Right at the beginning, it comes to the first showdown of defending champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and top challenger Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
WHO CAN TEST EVERYTHING
Every team that got their car ready in time. Except for Williams, these are all teams according to the state just before the release of the track. The private team with the 34-year-old returnee Robert Kubica from Poland and the 21-year-old newcomer George Russell from the UK want to get on Tuesday. Others, as well as defending champion and industry leader Mercedes already use the allowed film days for the maiden voyage of the new cars.
WHAT EVERYTHING IS TESTED
There is really nothing that is not tested. The main focus is on the aerodynamics, the engines and the tires and ultimately the interaction of the components. Only with the right aerodynamics, the engines bring their optimal performance to unfold. And only because and when the tires have the optimum temperature.
In order to gain data, the teams also equip the cars with lattice-type measuring devices. Also used now and again neon color, which flows in the wind. Thus, the flow pattern can be modeled.
It will be exciting how the long-time breakdown-prone Honda engine works in the always aerodynamically strong Red Bull. The team with the Dutch challenger Max Verstappen (21) and recently the Frenchman Pierre Gasly (23) has said goodbye to Renault.
HOW LONG IS TESTED
In total there are eight days. Start is at 9:00 am, shift end at 6:00 pm. In between there is a lunch break. The first four days take place until Thursday. The second test period will increase from February 26th to March 1st. Place is again the course in Catalonia. 16 days later, the new season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
WHAT THE MAIN ARTISTS SAY BEFORE TESTING
Lewis Hamilton, 34, five-time world champion and Mercedes title-holder, said: „Driving a new car is like meeting someone for the first time – you want to learn all about it as quickly as possible before embarking on the journey together.“
Sebastian Vettel (31), four times World Champion, in his fifth year with Ferrari: «I can not wait for it to start. I want to win the World Cup. That’s my mission, that’s why I’m here. “
Max Verstappen, Challenger of Red Bull: „We expect a lot. But it certainly takes time, we can not expect it to run perfectly right from the first race on. I am optimistic, but also realistic. “
Worth knowing about the test drives on the Formula 1 homepage
