F1 2023: testing is over. What is the picture for Bahrain?

Once the pre-season tests are over, now we just have to wait a week for the start of F1 2023. But did you know what the reality is?

Now, F1 on track only next Friday. The preparation work for the season concluded this Saturday (25th). The teams will now examine all the data obtained in these days and will work with the factories to understand and look for the best situation for each one.

Whilst we know that the pre-season tests are not fully representative of the reality of the forces, as we have already seen real lions in training turning into cubs when the thing was real and surprises in store, we leave with some visions for the first test of the 2023 season;

– The 2023 cars are faster than the 2022 ones. Although the floor has been raised by 15mm to better handle porpoising and to estimate that at least half a second would be lost, the times have been corrected correctly. The result of the technicians learning the rules, front tires that reduced the car’s tendency to go out of corners and slightly more refined engines, even with “freezing”;

Result: beat the pole time of the Bahrain GP, ​​as well as pulverizing the pre-2022 best lap by 1 second.

– Although the programs are varied and we cannot have an idea, Red Bull comes out with the general perception of “car to beat” at the start of the season. The RB19 was fast right out of the box and didn’t have any major problems early on. Let’s talk a little about him here;

– Ferrari had no obvious problems. There is a severe tire degradation problem. Initially, the explanation is that the team used smaller wings, which increased wear. It showed good speed and cornering performance. It was doubtful he was hiding the game, but he left the impression that he is the one who can get close to Red Bull;

– Mercedes is an unknown. The team’s perception is that the W14 is definitely a step forward. However, the car was noted to be extremely jumpy. On the second day there was a reported problem with the front axle which has apparently been fixed. Like last year, it used larger rear spoilers than the competition. In principle, it follows as a third force;

– The fight for the best of the rest is what promises to be lively. Who pulls the reel this time is Aston Martin, especially with Alonso. The AMR23 is definitely a step up from its predecessor. The car showed a very consistent performance, especially on the final day with Alonso completing an extremely consistent sequence of laps with the C1 (the hardest compound of the Bahrain GP).

Felipe Drugovich did what was expected of him. After a small electronic problem at the very beginning of the session, he tried to make the most of the time on the track and to be consistent. At least as far as foreign consumption is concerned, the team was very satisfied with the return given by the Brazilian. Now it’s a question of waiting if Lance Stroll will be able to return to the Bahrain GP. Or see if Aston Martin will opt for another solution for the debut. Vettel’s letter has been quoted these days…

– McLaren seemed a little disappointed. The MCL60 had problems with the front wheel flaps due to brake temperature. This took time off the track and the times of the Piastri/Norris duo weren’t the most encouraging…

– Alfa Romeo has shown that it has a fast car. According to its pilots, the C43 is superior to its predecessor. Zhou also led the second day of testing and Bottas set the 3rd fastest time overall thanks to the soft tyres. However, at race pace, it didn’t sound so good…

– AlphaTauri walked a lot (it was the team that did the most laps), but it didn’t convince. The AT04 proved to be an extremely twitchy machine, even if it got better over the days. Although Tsunoda was the fastest of the team, De Vries saw his performance praised by the team, especially for his technical feedback. But the team has attracted more attention for the news of a possible sale.

– Haas goes in the cake. He didn’t stand out for his performance, but he did a lot. The pilots were pleased with the VF-23 and hope the promise of increased development investment throughout the year will come true. The high point was the unveiling of the new pit wall platform, with only 3 seats and which, according to the team, resulted in savings of US$350,000 in freight transport.

– Alpine enters the group of great unknowns. Gasly and Ocon drove most of the time late and on harder tyres. Both praised the car and many who watched the tests realized it could be a good competitor to the best of the rest. Check…

– The Williams, although decent, sounded better than the previous year. The FW45 was at the bottom of the timesheets, but Alex Albon called the car “a big step forward”. The team’s goal is to try to fit effectively in midfield.

In this scribe’s perception, the balance of power today is this: Red Bull/Ferrari/Mercedes/Aston Martin/Alfa Romeo/Alpine/AlphaTauri/Haas/McLaren/Williams.

We are now awaiting the start of work to see the real situation of the squadron. Let F1 2023 come.

Pre-season best times table

Table of laps covered by teams and drivers in pre-season

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.