When will the F1 winter test 2024 start in Bahrain?

Traditionally, the 2024 Formula 1 season starts with the winter test. This year, the winter test is in Bahrain. Find out when F1 drivers and teams will return to action for the first time in 2024 here.

What is F1 winter testing?

In 2009, testing was banned for Formula 1 teams. Until then, all teams could continue to test their cars at their own or leased circuits, but new regulations put an end to that. F1 wanted to curb the cost of the sport, so it decided to organise a number of tests per year for all teams.

Where will F1 winter tests be held in 2024?

Those tests eventually changed to the winter tests. In this test, teams can test their cars for the new year prior to the season. In the first few examples, this test consisted of several weeks, but it is becoming fewer and fewer as the years go by. In 2024, there will be only three days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Bahrain has been used as a circuit for winter testing before and has taken over the full test since 2023. Until that year, a test was also held in Barcelona, but since 2023 Bahrain has held the full winter test. This also makes more sense logistically, given that a week after the winter test in Bahrain, the Bahrain Grand Prix is on the schedule.

When do F1 test days begin in Bahrain?

The 2024 F1 winter test will be held from 21 to 23 February. In recent years, Bahrain has been running from 10:00 to 19:00 local time. This means the winter test will start at 07:00 UK time or 8am CET. Whether these times will also be used during the 2024 winter test has not yet been confirmed.

Where can you follow the F1 winter test in Bahrain?

At GPblog, you can follow the winter test with a liveblog, summaries of the sessions, driver reactions, analyses and much more. It is broadcast on F1 TV in most countires around the world.