F1 preseason testing: what to expect in Bahrain

Dominika Jordan
Feb 25, 2025, 11:39 AM ET

F1 preseason testing in Bahrain: Insights for the 2025 Season

As the Formula 1 teams descend upon Bahrain for their annual preseason testing, the excitement among fans is palpable. The unveiling of new cars on the track brings heightened anticipation, though the true competitive significance of the lap times remains shrouded in mystery.

The purpose of preseason testing

Formula 1 teams engage in rigorous preseason testing to prepare their cars for the upcoming season, which kicks off in Australia on March 16. This meticulous process, condensed into three days to cut costs, focuses on debugging and refining the cars to ensure maximum speed and reliability.

The opening morning is dedicated to system checks—testing the cooling, hydraulic, and electrical systems to eliminate potential reliability issues in the intense desert heat of Bahrain. The cars, fitted with over 300 sensors and equipped to generate up to 90 megabytes of data per lap, are put through their paces.

Aerodynamics play a pivotal role in testing, with teams using various sensors, including conspicuous metal rakes, and the application of "flow-vis" paint to understand airflow better. Driver feedback further complements technical data, with steering, brake feel, and car behavior in corners being key focus areas.

Once fundamental operations are confirmed, teams delve into setup adjustments, experimenting with different ride heights, wing angles, and suspension settings to fine-tune performance across varied fuel loads and tire compounds.

Decoding the performance times

Lap times, while intriguing, rarely provide an accurate snapshot of the competitive order. Variables such as fuel loads, tire compounds, and track temperatures play significant roles in distorting the true pace of the cars.

Pirelli's tire compounds, identified by numbers C1 to C6 (with C6 being the softest), are crucial to performance results. A car on harder compounds that is closely matched to another on softer compounds indicates an inherent pace advantage for the harder compound car.

Fuel load is another critical factor. Heavier fuel loads can slow a car down considerably, up to 3.5 seconds per lap with a full tank. Teams often withhold fuel load information, making it challenging to draw direct comparisons based purely on lap times.

However, identifying race simulations can lend clarity. Teams aiming to complete race distances (57 laps) offer a more level playing field for comparison. These simulations, conducted with similar fuel loads, give a better indication of each car's performance over a grand prix distance.

Forming predictions from testing

Despite the variability, careful analysis of testing data can provide a clearer picture of potential performance. Patterns in lap times, race simulations, and the comparison of tire performances across different stints offer insights into which teams may have found significant improvements over the winter.

Yet, it remains essential to recognize that a car's performance in Bahrain does not always translate directly to other circuits like Melbourne's Albert Park. The development race continues beyond testing, with teams working on upgrades leading into the opening races.

In conclusion, while preseason testing in Bahrain offers numerous data points and insights, the true competitive order will only begin to reveal itself once the lights go out in Melbourne. Until then, fans and teams alike will continue to pore over the data, eagerly anticipating the start of the new season.