Formula 1 will roar back into life this week with pre-season testing to take place in Bahrain.
While all 10 teams have taken part in a shakedown, the test marks the sole opportunity for Formula 1 teams to run their 2023 cars in anger before the opening round of a record-breaking 23-event season.
Per the regulations each team is permitted to field only one car on each of the three days of action at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Teams have typically split duties on each day between their respective drivers.
Aston Martin will not have Lance Stroll available after he sustained injuries in a minor cycling accident in Spain.
Stroll’s fitness will be assessed daily ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix and he will be replaced by reigning Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich.
The test sessions – which take place across Thursday, Friday and Saturday – will run from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 19:30 local time (GMT +3).
Unlike at grands prix – where only three tyre compounds are available – teams will be able to run any tyre compound from Pirelli’s expanded six-compound rage.
Sunny and fine weather is expected throughout the duration of the three-day test, peaking at 26◦c.
It is a short turnaround time between the sole pre-season test and the opening round of the campaign, with free practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix to begin next Friday (March 3).
| Team | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen | Sergio Perez (AM) Max Verstappen (PM) | Sergio Perez |
 | Ferrari | Carlos Sainz (AM) Charles Leclerc (PM) | Carlos Sainz (AM) Charles Leclerc (PM) | Charles Leclerc (AM) Carlos Sainz (PM) |
 | Mercedes | George Russell (AM) Lewis Hamilton (PM) | Lewis Hamilton (AM) George Russell (PM) | George Russell (AM) Lewis Hamilton (PM) |
 | Alpine | Pierre Gasly (AM) Esteban Ocon (PM) | Esteban Ocon (AM) Pierre Gasly (PM) | Pierre Gasly (AM) Esteban Ocon (PM) |
 | McLaren | Oscar Piastri (AM) Lando Norris (PM) | Lando Norris (AM) Oscar Piastri (PM) | Oscar Piastri (AM) Lando Norris (PM) |
 | Alfa Romeo | Zhou Guanyu (AM) Valtteri Bottas (PM) | Zhou Guanyu | Valtteri Bottas |
 | Aston Martin | Felipe Drugovich (AM) Fernando Alonso (PM) | Fernando Alonso | |
 | Haas | Nico Hulkenberg (AM) Kevin Magnussen (PM) | Kevin Magnussen (AM) Nico Hulkenberg (PM) | Nico Hulkenberg (AM) Kevin Magnussen (PM) |
 | AlphaTauri | Yuki Tsunoda (AM) Nyck de Vries (PM) | Yuki Tsunoda (AM) Nyck de Vries (PM) | Nyck de Vries (AM) Yuki Tsunoda (PM) |
 | Williams | Alexander Albon (AM) Logan Sargeant (PM) | Logan Sargeant | Alexander Albon |
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