Bahrain Test: Will Fans Get To Watch?

The Bahrain pre-season test for the 2022 Formula 1 season was televised, with Sky Sports broadcasting live coverage in the UK and Ireland. The test took place from March 10-12, 2022, at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain, and was the second and final pre-season test before the 2022 season began. Unlike the first test in Barcelona, which was not televised, the Bahrain test allowed fans to watch proceedings over the three days.

Where to watch the Bahrain F1 test

The Bahrain F1 test will be televised, with Sky Sports broadcasting live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event and F1 channels. Sky Sports subscribers can also watch via the Sky Go app.

If you don’t have Sky, you can watch the tournament through NOW. You can get a Day Membership for £9.99 or a Monthly Membership for £33.99, all without needing a contract. NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles.

For viewers outside the UK and Ireland, F1TV will broadcast the Bahrain test, subject to availability. F1TV is the sport's official viewing platform, and fans can subscribe to watch.

The F1 website will also have extensive live coverage, live timing, reaction and analysis from all three days in Bahrain.

Bahrain F1 test timings

The Bahrain F1 test timings for 2022 were as follows:

The test took place over three days, from Thursday 10 March to Saturday 12 March at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain. Each day was split into two sessions, with a morning and afternoon run. The morning session started at 7 am GMT and ran until 11 am GMT, and the afternoon session started at 12 pm GMT and finished at 4 pm GMT. There was also a one-hour lunch break in between the two sessions.

The Bahrain F1 test is an important event for teams and drivers to prepare for the new season. It is a chance for them to fine-tune their cars and make any necessary adjustments. The test is also exciting for fans, as it provides an early glimpse of the teams' and drivers' performance ahead of the official race.

In 2022, the Bahrain F1 test was broadcast live on television and F1TV, unlike the first test in Barcelona, which was not televised. Sky Sports and F1TV provided live coverage of the test, allowing fans around the world to follow the action and get a preview of the upcoming season.

F1 Bahrain pre-season testing schedule

The 2024 F1 pre-season testing will take place in Bahrain from February 21 to 23. The three-day test will be held at the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, the same venue for the season opener on March 20.

Each day will feature eight hours of running, with a morning session from 7 am to 11 am GMT and an afternoon session from 12 pm to 4 pm GMT. The morning session will begin at 10 am local time, and the day will conclude at 7 pm local time.

The pre-season testing is the first time Formula 1 teams can run their cars together and get an early indication of their competitiveness for the upcoming season. This year's testing will be especially crucial due to the major rule overhaul ahead of the new campaign.

The Bahrain pre-season testing will be televised and broadcast live. In the UK, Sky Sports will provide coverage, and Sky Sports subscribers can also livestream the event through the Sky Go app or via Now TV. F1TV will broadcast the testing in all territories where it usually covers F1 weekends live.

F1 Bahrain test driver schedule

The F1 Bahrain test will be televised, with live coverage of all the action. The test will be shown live on TV via Sky Sports platforms in the UK and Ireland, and F1 TV will stream the action in countries where the online platform is available.

Now, for the F1 Bahrain test driver schedule. The 2023 F1 season kicked off with three crucial days of testing, starting on Thursday, 23 February, at the Bahrain International Circuit. Each of the three days followed the same schedule, with running taking place from 10:00 until 14:15 and from 15:15 until 19:30 local time, with a one-hour lunch break in between.

For the 2024 pre-season test, the schedule was slightly different. The test took place from Wednesday, February 21st to Friday, February 23rd, at the Bahrain International Circuit. Each day followed the same schedule, with a morning session from 7:00 to 11:00 GMT and an afternoon session from 12:00 to 16:00 GMT, with a one-hour lunch break in between.

The teams will release their full driver schedules ahead of the test, but typically, each driver will get one session per day, with young drivers also likely to feature at some points.

How F1 teams fared in testing

The Bahrain test will be televised live on Sky Sports' Main Event and F1 channels. Now, here is a detailed analysis of how the F1 teams fared in testing:

Mercedes

Mercedes had a mixed bag in Bahrain. They led the lap charts with 384 circuits but didn't make an impact on the timing sheets. They caused a stir with their radical sidepod design, but it didn't help their porpoising issues.

AlphaTauri

AlphaTauri had a smooth run with lots of laps and no major reliability concerns. Pierre Gasly, a proven performer, and Yuki Tsunoda, who has grown in confidence, form a strong duo. However, their car didn't stand out, and they might need to do more to compete for the top spots.

Ferrari

Ferrari impressed on Day 1 and 2 with consistently quick laps and no apparent reliability issues. They were slightly edged out by Red Bull on Day 3 but still look well-placed to challenge for the championship.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo had a better time in Bahrain than in Barcelona, where they faced mechanical issues. Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas got plenty of laps, although Bottas encountered some minor hydraulic problems.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin had a good test, with only one minor issue for Sebastian Vettel on Day 2. Their pace is a slight unknown, but there are no significant concerns, and they seem ready for the first race.

Red Bull

Red Bull quietly went about their business, with only one reliability concern in Barcelona, which they swiftly addressed. They upgraded their car on Day 3, and Max Verstappen delivered a brilliant late lap to finish comfortably as the fastest. Red Bull has emerged as an early favourite.

Alpine

Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso impressed on Day 2 and 3, respectively, with quick laps and no obvious reliability issues. If Alpine can improve their reliability while maintaining their consistent pace, they should be in contention for podiums.

McLaren

McLaren had a challenging time in Bahrain. Daniel Ricciardo missed all three days due to Covid-19, and Lando Norris faced braking and overheating issues. They need to address these problems before the first race, but when running, they looked quick.

Haas

Haas encountered delays due to freight issues, but once on track, they looked quick. Kevin Magnussen, returning to the team, had a good showing, although he noted neck strain. They seem poised to fight for points on occasion this season.

Williams

Williams had a mixed bag. They started well but faced a setback on Day 2 when Nicholas Latifi's car caught fire, limiting his laps. However, Latifi made up for lost time on Day 3 with an impressive 124 laps. Alex Albon had a quiet but composed test, settling well into his new team.

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