Testing times

Formula 1 action at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) this year will not end when the chequered flag comes down on the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’ has been awarded the privilege of hosting the first of two in-season tests this Formula 1 season.

The testing will take place on Tuesday and April 19 at BIC, right after holding this coming weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix spectacle. There is another in-season test this year, scheduled for August 1 and 2.

According to FIA regulations, from 10 days before the start of the season to the end of the calendar year, the teams are permitted to take part in two team tests of no more than two consecutive days at circuits where an event has just taken place. These tests must commence no less than 36 hours after the end of said event.

Silverstone was initially lined up to host the second in-season group test, as in 2016, but this has now been switched to the Hungaroring, on August 1 and 2, the final action before the sport’s summer break.

All 10 teams are expected to be at the tests at BIC, but it is still unknown who will be behind the wheel for each on both days.

Formula 1 teams are permitted to run one car during in-season running, while two of the four days must be allocated to drivers who have started fewer than two grand prix races.   

This is also according to FIA rules, which state that two days of each in-season test must be allocated to young driver training. Again, a young driver is classified as someone who has competed two or fewer races.

The in-season test in Bahrain will also help assist Formula 1 tyre suppliers Pirelli with warm-weather tyre development.

Barcelona played host to the official pre-season test and offered fans the first opportunity to witness the interpretations of F1’s leading designers of the new rules that permit greater aerodynamic freedom than in recent years, as reported in GulfWeekly.

It may be the first time for more than 30 years that a reigning F1 champion is not racing following the retirement of Nico Rosberg but his replacement at Mercedes, Valteri Bottas, transferred from Williams, topped the time sheets after the first four days.

It should also not be forgotten that the winter temperatures in Spain were at least 10 degrees below the coldest conditions the teams are likely to experience in any of the season’s races.

In addition to the opening three grand prix results, the coming Bahrain testing should give fans a better idea of the teams that could challenge Mercedes and Ferrari for glory.