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Following the shakedown week
in Barcelona, tomorrow sees the start of the first pre-season Formula 1
test, which will provide teams with the opportunity to further their
understanding of these new cars built to conform to the technical
regulations that come into force this year.
The Sakhir circuit hosts
the first three days from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 February, with a further
three from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 February. Cars can run on track from 10
am to 2pm and from 3pm to 7pm. Over the course of the six days, all Pirelli
slick compounds will be available for testing, though not all at the same
time.
For the three days of the first pre-season test, teams can only
run the C1, C2 and C3 slick compounds. They can use up to 28 sets of dry
weather tyres, while one set of Cinturato Intermediates will also be
available to them.
For the second session, from 18 to 20 February,
the full range of compounds from C1 to C5 will be available, each team able
to use a maximum of 24 sets. No wet weather tyres will be supplied for the
second session, but teams can carry over sets previously fitted at the first
session, including used sets that have done no more than nine laps.
As in the past, teams have a free choice regarding the number of sets of
each compound, within the maximum number permitted for each test and in
accordance with the selection rules set for the for the first session.
In order to facilitate identifying the different compounds during these
two test sessions, the logo on the C1 and C2 will be white, those on the C3
and C4 yellow, while the softest C5 will be red. In addition, the sidewall
on the C1, C3 and C5 will feature a chequered flag in the banding, while the
C2 and C4 will only bear the Pirelli and P Zero logos, with no additional
markings.
Over the next three days, when only the first three slicks
in the range will be used, there will therefore be two with white markings
and one with yellow. The C1 and C2 can be identified because the latter will
not have any banding, and the C3 will have yellow marking and banding. This
identification system is only in use for these tests and will not be seen on
race weekends. |
