At nine in the morning local time, the 2022 Formula 1 winter testing began at the circuit in the suburbs of Barcelona. At first they are really winter, and the second series, which will take place in two weeks in Bahrain, is already quite a spring one.
However, this week the weather will be good. Now in Barcelona there are regarding 6 degrees, and in the followingnoon they promise up to 16C. Precipitation is not expected.
Each of the three days of testing will include two four-hour sessions – from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm local time, separated by a mandatory (for Barcelona) hour lunch break.
Teams can use one car for testing, dividing the program between two pilots. If everything goes according to plan, each rider will work for three days, although this almost never happens in tests.
The cars are brand new this year and there is a lot to be done. The main task of the three days in Barcelona is to check the operation of the main systems and drive as far as possible to make sure they are reliable. Teams will start working on the speed already in Bahrain, and we will be able to assess the balance of power only following qualifying for the first Grand Prix.
The 2022 season has started! Lando Norris was the first to enter the track.
Today on the track are:
Mercedes: George Russell (morning) and Lewis Hamilton (followingnoon)
Red Bull RacingStory by: Max Verstappen
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (morning) and Carlos Sainz (followingnoon)
McLarenStory by: Lando Norris
Alpine: Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin: Sebastian Vettel (morning) and Lance Stroll (followingnoon)
AlphaTauriStory by: Yuuki Tsunoda
Alfa Romeo: Robert Kubica (morning) and Valtteri Bottas) followingnoon)
Haas: Nikita Mazepin (morning) and Mick Schumacher (followingnoon)
WilliamsStory by: Nicholas Latifi (morning) and Alex Albon (followingnoon)