The three-day test will provide an initial insight into which teams look strong and which have issues to sort out before the first race of the season at the same venue the following week.
Can anyone get between Max Verstappen, Red Bull and both titles? We will get our first pieces of information on February 21-23.
When is F1 pre-season testing
Pre-season testing will take place on the dates stated above in Bahrain, with the season-opening venue taking over hosting duties from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in recent years.
This allows teams to test new machinery in representative conditions, rather than the much colder climate offered by the Spanish venue during the winter.
Like last season, only three days of testing is permitted ahead of the campaign, though shakedowns are allowed through each team's filming day allocation. This allows up to 200km of running.
F1 pre-season testing schedule
| Date | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday February 21 | 07:00 GMT [10:00 local] | 16:00 GMT [19:00 local] |
| Thursday February 22 | 07:00 GMT [10:00 local] | 16:00 GMT [19:00 local] |
| Friday February 23 | 07:00 GMT [10:00 local] | 16:00 GMT [19:00 local] |
F1 pre-season testing driver line-ups
The pre-season testing driver line-ups will reflect the confirmed grid for the upcoming campaign, with each driver hoping to make the most of what little time behind the wheel they have.
Each competitor will be restricted to one and a half days of testing each, with some drivers doing one full day and then a half day, whilst others will run across three half days.
With there being no change to the F1 grid for the coming season, there are no new faces to cast an eye over, though with recent market moves there will be no shortage of stories to discuss.
F1 pre-season testing 2024 driver line-up
| Team | Driver | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | Sergio Perez |
| Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton | George Russell |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Carlos Sainz |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Esteban Ocon |
| Williams | Alex Albon | Logan Sargeant |
| Visa Cash App RB | Daniel Ricciardo | Yuki Tsunoda |
| Stake Sauber | Valtteri Bottas | Zhou Guanyu |
| Haas | Kevin Magnussen | Nico Hulkenberg |
How to watch F1 pre-season testing
For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 will show every moment of testing, with F1 TV also providing coverage in applicable countries.
RacingNews365 will also cover testing in its entirety, so you'll never miss a moment.
How to watch F1 pre-season testing [UK]
| Channel | Session | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports F1 | Morning | 06:50 - 11:20 GMT |
| Afternoon | 12:10 - 16:40 GMT |
F1 pre-season testing 2024 weather forecast
One of two vital factors in holding the pre-season test in Bahrain rather than Europe is the weather.
The forecast will see temperatures reach over 20 degrees Celsius on each day of the test to allow optimum running conditions.
There have been issues in the past, however, with a sandstorm impacting run plans but, in general, the weather offers much greater testing opportunities than the chilly temperatures of the European winter.
It is worth noting that temperatures will fluctuate across the nine hours between the start and end of each day.
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