Why Ferrari could hold the early advantage at pre-season testing

F1 teams will take part in a three-day test from the Bahrain International Circuit this week.

The outing will allow all of the squads to collect crucial data ahead of what is predicted to be one of the closest seasons in some time.

Teams are free to conduct whatever run plans they wish across the three days with several drivers using the chance to further embed themselves into their new squads.

This includes Lewis Hamilton, who has made the seismic switch to Ferrari following his highly successful stint at the Mercedes team.

Hamilton enters the upcoming campaign looking to seal a record-breaking eighth title while team-mate Charles Leclerc is seeking his first.

While Ferrari has been tipped as a leading contender for the upcoming season, the Italian squad could easily end up with the fastest lap time in Bahrain.

Bahrain's track layout has always made it quite a difficult one for the Pirelli tyres to handle and typically, the hardest range of compounds are selected for the race weekend at the circuit.

However, pre-season testing allows teams to bring all of the available compounds in Pirelli's arsenal to the event, if they so wish.

This includes the all-new C6 compound, the softest in Pirelli's range. The tyre will be best suited to street circuits and other venues where the energy load on the tyres is low.

There is no chance the C6 will be used during the race weekend in Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in April, however the pre-season test offers the chance to get an insight into the new rubber.

But it is not a popular choice for the upcoming test - in fact, just two teams have opted to bring the C5 and C6 compounds to testing.

They are Ferrari and Williams, with other teams placing more focus on the harder compounds that will be used for much of the year ahead.

It presents the opportunity for Ferrari in particular to set what is known as a 'glory lap' and get heads spinning before the opening round of the year.

However, it must be highlighted that no team set their fastest pre-season lap time last year on the C5 compound despite Ferrari, Mercedes, Williams and Stake bringing it to testing.

Additionally, fuel loads can further mask where a team slots into the pecking order, regardless of what tyre compound they run.

While no answers over the pecking order will truly formulise until the season gets underway, Ferrari should be watched closely should it opt to attach the C5 or C6 compound to its car.