Lewis Hamilton ‘excited’ to unveil new Mercedes F1 automobile
The 2023 F1 season begins now as we see automobiles out on monitor for the primary time on day one in all pre-season testing in Bahrain.
This yr sees 23 races held in a record-breaking calendar, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seems to make it three in a row following back-to-back World Championship triumphs.
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes staff will probably be concentrating on enchancment following a disappointing 2022 season, whereas Ferrari will probably be trying to study from final yr’s mishaps and errors as they eye their first Drivers title in 16 years.
Lance Stroll has been dominated out of the three-day testing window, with Aston Martin take a look at driver Felipe Drugovich taking his place on Thursday morning. Also in motion on day one is Max Verstappen, each Ferrari drivers and each Mercedes drivers.
Follow stay updates from F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain
F1 testing LIVE: And we’re off!
George Russell, within the all-black W14, is the primary automobile to go away the pit lane in Bahrain, intently adopted by the Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu!
Cars are again out on monitor right away, with Alex Albon’s Williams and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz straight out too.
All the automobiles are sporting the aero-rakes to start out with to evaluate the airflow in and across the automobile!
Kieran Jackson23 February 2023 07:02
F1 testing LIVE: Why F1 pre-season testing takes on higher significance this yr as new season dawns
Time to seek out your helmet, don your fireproof gloves and pack your luggage. Because 95 days after we stated goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi, Formula 1 chugs again into life this weekend as the beginning of the 2023 season dawns. The automobile launch season, from the tempered-down to the over-the-top, has concluded and eventually we are going to see automobiles on monitor with the primary – and much-maligned solely – official pre-season take a look at of the season. Where? Bahrain. Also the placement the place, 11 days from now, motorsport’s best present goes racing as soon as extra.
Yet whereas an undertone of keen pleasure will immerse followers the world over on the sight of recent – or maybe not so recent – liveries on the Bahrain International Circuit, such delirium gained’t be mirrored within the paddock. Rather, it’s again right down to enterprise. Tick off your guidelines. Screw your nuts and bolts. Contrary to the zing within the air, a wave of apprehension will blow over the paddock and its personnel.
Testing is an odd phenomenon. On the entire, the timesheets usually are not stated to be the precedence. Instead, its tweaking set-ups. Trialling completely different elements. Attaching aero-rakes and dashes of inexperienced paint to analyse airflow. Some groups even swing the opposite means; sandbagging the automobile’s true efficiency to disguise their potential from their rivals.
That all being stated, this three-day testing window does tackle extra significance than years passed by. Usually, the groups additionally come collectively in Barcelona for at minimal a shakedown. Or maybe Jerez on the southern Spanish coast. This yr although, with 2022’s drastic regulation adjustments solely reasonably tinkered with within the low season – a barely raised ride-height essentially the most noteworthy change – drivers will solely have a day-and-a-half of operating to tune their automobiles appropriately and iron out any points.
Three days in complete and bang: we’re into the primary Grand Prix weekend of 23. That’s the variety of races, it needs to be stated, not simply the yr.
Kieran Jackson23 February 2023 06:58
F1 testing LIVE: Good morning!
The 2023 F1 season begins now as we see automobiles out on monitor for the primary time on day one in all pre-season testing in Bahrain – welcome to The Independent’s stay protection!
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes staff will probably be concentrating on enchancment following a disappointing 2022 season, whereas Ferrari will probably be trying to study from final yr’s mishaps and errors as they eye their first Drivers title in 16 years.
Lance Stroll has been dominated out of the three-day testing window, with Aston Martin take a look at driver Felipe Drugovich taking his place on Thursday morning. Also in motion on day one is Max Verstappen, each Ferrari drivers and each Mercedes drivers.
Day one in all testing begins at 7am (GMT).
Kieran Jackson23 February 2023 06:56