The Formula 1 season kicks off on March 20 with the Bahrain Grand Prix. To get ready for the grueling 23 race season teams have six days of testing to understand their new cars and get drivers up to speed. Barcelona played host to the “shake down” test before the paddock travels to Bahrain for three days at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 10.

The shake down saw Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz complete the most mileage but the headline times were set by Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Testing doesn’t always show a clear picture of what we can expect in Formula 1. Tyre compounds and fuel loads dictate so much in terms of outright performance. For every 10kg of fuel being carried in a car it costs in the region of 0.3s per lap while tyre compounds can offer an even bigger performance difference.

If you use the softest tyre compound you’ll set your fastest lap but the wear rate is much higher. Testing is about balancing performance with durability to get the most out of your time on track. Mercedes used the softest compound for both Hamilton and George Russell whereas Red Bull used harder tyres for Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. It was a surprise to see the reigning World Champion down the order in sixth fastest but Verstappen was using a much harder compound tyre. The Dutchman will be competitive from Round 1.

A brand new package of rules has changed the look and feel of Formula 1 cars. The downforce that pushes a car into the ground and produces huge amounts of grip has been reduced and cars are moving around a lot more. Using the six days of testing to get the most from your time on track is crucial. Mileage is almost as important as times and with Ferrari completing the most miles, and mostly using the harder tyre, the Prancing Horse could be primed to gallop in 2022. The most famous name in motorsport hasn’t won a Grand Prix since 2019 so this season is critical for them.

While Ferrari completed over 2000km of testing mileage there were some teams that struggled. Haas and Alfa Romeo both completed less than 1000km so they are already on the back foot but there is still time to catch up and get your season back on track before Round 1. It’s not easy in Formula 1 for any team but being able to work through your testing program and get ready for Round 1 is key.

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