Pre-season testing gonna happen..?

[TheDeuce]

With the somewhat shocking CV figures of late and the fact that the UK is ground zero for the new strain (other than the South Africa strain), I just can't see testing happening. Other behind closed doors sports are voluntarily giving up in spite of being 'allowed' to continue.

Looking at this map... we're not exactly going to be a popular export to Europe right now: https://news.google.com/covid19/map?hl=en-GB&m... (pan down to see how our numbers compare to spain..)

And by the time pre-season is due to kick off, the rest of Western Europe that is currently 4-6 weeks behind us with the new strain is likely to be in the thick of it too.

Anyone see a glimmer of hope here? To me I see the current UK situation replicated across europe over the next couple of months.

[Muzzer79]

They’ll set up a bubble, which will be continued into the first races

If they can’t test, by associated principle they can’t race, so they’ll be going testing.

[TheDeuce]

Muzzer79 said:

They’ll set up a bubble, which will be continued into the first races

If they can’t test, by associated principle they can’t race, so they’ll be going testing.

Of course, the plan remains unchanged and I believe it's secure.

Sadly the sentiment is changing however. It doesn't matter how secure it is, in the public view it might be considered inappropriate. Also a question mark looms over further hard border closures and mandatory quarantine without exemption. The latter would royally screw F1.

[Sandpit Steve]

TheDeuce said:

Of course, the plan remains unchanged and I believe it's secure.

Sadly the sentiment is changing however. It doesn't matter how secure it is, in the public view it might be considered inappropriate. Also a question mark looms over further hard border closures and mandatory quarantine without exemption. The latter would royally screw F1.

There’s rumours around of them moving the testing to Bahrain, which makes more sense as it will be easier to isolate everyone there, and there won’t be the political aspect of going to Spain (and driving through France to get there). More expensive for the teams through, as they have to fly everything out, then charter planes every day to get new parts to the car.

Australian quarantine is the sticking point for the first race, but then they’re all back to Bahrain anyway. China will probably be okay if everyone travels from Bahrain, rather than from Europe. The difficulty is going to be the engineers and management, who may have to decide to be either in the factory or on the road for a couple of months, working remotely. And the drivers, who are going to be told in no uncertain terms to not think about going anywhere except the hotel gym and pool.

U.K. are introducing testing rather than quarantines for incomers at this stage, which should be fine for the F1 guys as they’ve got extensive testing going on anyway. That could well change as the vaccine gets rolled out though, with mainland Europe likely to be a long way behind.

[DanielSan]

Sandpit Steve said:

There’s rumours around of them moving the testing to Bahrain, which makes more sense as it will be easier to isolate everyone there, and there won’t be the political aspect of going to Spain (and driving through France to get there). More expensive for the teams through, as they have to fly everything out, then charter planes every day to get new parts to the car.

Planes are chartered to get new parts to Spain anyway so the cost relative to an F1 team is neither here nor there, plus with only 3 days testing I'll be more amazed if teams haven't already got any 'upgrade' parts with them anyway. Add in the fact that Bahrain testing may be run a week or so later than Barcelona also and any parts that are in development have that extra time to be made and shipped with the car in one go.

[TheDeuce]

It looks increasingly likely that bahrain could be the season opening GP anyway, so that alone makes it candidate number 1 for pre-season testing if a question mark does exist over Barcelona. Testing and then racing at the same venue saves the teams money and crucially perhaps, avoids additional back and forth travel. Any reduction in F1 human traffic right now simplifies things and reduces risk (and to a degree, criticism).

An important factor in all of this is not whether they will be able to go to Barcelona (as of today, they can) - but rather if they can be confident 'today' that they will definitely be able to go there in about 5 weeks time. The decision has to be made ahead of time and even a possibility that restrictions could scupper Barcelona testing nearer the time will have to be considered right now.

[Kraken]

Rules for elite sports are different from those for "normal" work so there's no real issue from the UK end of things. I guess it comes down to the rules of the country that the testing is being held in.

[TheDeuce]

Kraken said:

Rules for elite sports are different from those for "normal" work so there's no real issue from the UK end of things. I guess it comes down to the rules of the country that the testing is being held in.

That's exactly the unknown. And when the list of exemptions was drawn up last year the then covid situation was responding well to lockdowns and generally reducing across Europe. For this season's start, the only expectation is for things across Europe to get worse as the new strain goes on a continental jolly.

I'm sure that with increasing vaccination we'll get there - but the tipping point is probably sometime in the middle of the year.

[Deesee]

Bahrain.. for preseason test.

Season start should look something like..

Bahrain - March 28
Portimao - April 11
Imola - April 25
Barcelona - May 9
Monaco - May 23

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Bahrain.. for preseason test.

Season start should look something like..

Bahrain - March 28
Portimao - April 11
Imola - April 25
Barcelona - May 9
Monaco - May 23

I'm increasingly thinking that testing will move to bahrain - it just makes sense on many a level.

Beyond that, I hope you're right. You've listed four countries there that will be feeling the impact of the new strain April/May and it really depends on how they deal with that and what their politicians decide. The 'elite sports' exemption is simply a goodwill agreement between countries, it's not something they're committed to - See Australia for details..

Whatever happens I'm still convinced a season will happen and that F1 can be safe and has an economic benefit much needed right now. I'm just not sure that the first half of the year is going to be all that predictable. I'd be very happy with your proposed calendar though

[Muzzer79]

I don’t think Monaco will happen.

[TheDeuce]

Muzzer79 said:

I don’t think Monaco will happen.

Depends what the more influential residents lobby the palace to do. If it were to go there, it's actually a very easy place to shut off to visitors and then has an excess of police to ensure the locals don't mingle as a result of the GP.

It's Monaco - if they wish it to be, it will be - F1 would certainly go there. I suspect in the end many of the more influential and higher risk group residents will be against it however.

[confucuis]

Should they even be testing? Given that the cars are basically the same as last year, is there much to be gained besides getting the drivers match fit, which IMHO the normal practice sessions of the first GP would suffice

[Deesee]

confucuis said:

Should they even be testing? Given that the cars are basically the same as last year, is there much to be gained besides getting the drivers match fit, which IMHO the normal practice sessions of the first GP would suffice

New spec Pirelli, floor has changed..

Good link here, in particular item 11...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-tw...

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

confucuis said:

Should they even be testing? Given that the cars are basically the same as last year, is there much to be gained besides getting the drivers match fit, which IMHO the normal practice sessions of the first GP would suffice

New spec Pirelli, floor has changed..

Good link here, in particular item 11...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-tw...

Isn't there also an argument that testing was expected and the teams have subsequently directed millions of spend upon that expectation. Testing time is invaluable in F1 these days. The teams are going to be ready, it's up to FOM to provide what was promised.

That and the fact that the rookies have had virtually no meaningful time in an F1 car. Mazepin hasn't had a sniff for two years. Seems reasonable that they should have a few days of getting to grips with the cars ahead of entering a GP championship in them. I recall after the extended break last season several seasoned drivers said there was no gym substitute for F1 g-force. What about the incoming drivers that have never had that experience for a race distance? Also the safety issues of sending unseasoned drivers into battle after a just a few short and congested free practice sessions..

[Flooble]

Could you resolve that (and save money) by having a Thursday practice day prior to the "normal" Friday free practice at the first Grand Prix of the season?

Heck, make it a Wednesday practice day so they can have Thursday to do the press conferences while the mechanics sort through the data.

[Teddy Lop]

Flooble said:

Could you resolve that (and save money) by having a Thursday practice day prior to the "normal" Friday free practice at the first Grand Prix of the season?

Heck, make it a Wednesday practice day so they can have Thursday to do the press conferences while the mechanics sort through the data.

I don't think a single day so close to the opening race is enough for them to test various concepts and evaluate the results and implement changes before the first race, certainly not in the way the teams are expecting. I guess you could fly out and have a few days testing with a week before the race and just accept, as is the covid norm, that the first race will be a compromise. With the second race being the teams first in a fully prepared state, the first could throw up a few surprises which might not be such a bad thing.

[TheDeuce]

Flooble said:

Could you resolve that (and save money) by having a Thursday practice day prior to the "normal" Friday free practice at the first Grand Prix of the season?

Heck, make it a Wednesday practice day so they can have Thursday to do the press conferences while the mechanics sort through the data.

Anything less than what the teams have factored in for their development will be a sore point. Besides, if we can have a single day ahead of the first GP why not the full 3 days a week ahead of the first GP at the same venue?

That's why shifting testing to Bahrain must be attractive to F1. A single round trip and they get testing sorted and a GP (or two if they wish)..

I'd prefer we start in Europe personally but I can see that Bahrain would be a very safe and convenient place to get the season underway whilst seeing what state Europe ends up in over the coming weeks.

[TheDeuce]

Teddy Lop said:

I don't think a single day so close to the opening race is enough for them to test various concepts and evaluate the results and implement changes before the first race, certainly not in the way the teams are expecting. I guess you could fly out and have a few days testing with a week before the race and just accept, as is the covid norm, that the first race will be a compromise. With the second race being the teams first in a fully prepared state, the first could throw up a few surprises which might not be such a bad thing.

Plus the double header at Bahrain worked out well last season - a proven solution to start with this season perhaps. Might also be quite interesting to watch pre-season running at the very same circuit they then race on a week later.

Like you say, not ideal but these are strange times. A week between testing and the race weekend would be enough for the teams to address most issues. Beyond that, it's the same for everyone...

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

Isn't there also an argument that testing was expected and the teams have subsequently directed millions of spend upon that expectation. Testing time is invaluable in F1 these days. The teams are going to be ready, it's up to FOM to provide what was promised.

That and the fact that the rookies have had virtually no meaningful time in an F1 car. Mazepin hasn't had a sniff for two years. Seems reasonable that they should have a few days of getting to grips with the cars ahead of entering a GP championship in them. I recall after the extended break last season several seasoned drivers said there was no gym substitute for F1 g-force. What about the incoming drivers that have never had that experience for a race distance? Also the safety issues of sending unseasoned drivers into battle after a just a few short and congested free practice sessions..

Testing is important, it will go ahead, most probably in Bahrain..

There’s multiple layouts in Sakir all grade one, F2/F3 testing has been there in the most recent years, F1 testing was there previously as well as young driver and Pirelli testing.

Don’t worry about Mazepin, he’s been driving a Merc works car privately with Stoffel as his coach all over Europe in the last 2 years, he’s done more testing miles recently than any of the rostered drivers.

Dani Ric and Seb won’t have access to a previous car, so other than a shakedown, testing will be the first time they will use a Merc PU.

Carlos has a private test with an older Ferrari.

I don’t see any safety issues with new drivers, the previous F2 generation, CLC, Russell, Lando etc all stepped up pretty well, and 2020, Fittipaldi and Aitkin (spin in Free practice) both stepped in largely without incident.

F2 and the super licence requirements seems to have seasoned the up and coming pretty well, and if any were concerned there’s plenty of GP experienced drivers sitting out this year ( Hulk/Kyvat/among others) who could comfortably do a fine job.