All the teams are expected to be present at the Bahrain test, as they continue to optimise the interaction between their radical new cars – with 1.6-litre turbocharged engines and advanced energy recuperation systems – and the latest generation of Pirelli tyres, which feature new compounds and constructions this year. The track contains a wide variety of speeds and corners with high longitudinal demands that address most aspects of a tyre’s behaviour, making it an ideal test venue.
In the centre of attention this week, will be Red Bull RB10 and Lotus E22. We saw just couple of images of E22 which posed more questions than they answered. Lotus car will have it`s first steps after limited promotional running at Jerez.
TEAM WEDNESDAY, 19/2/2014 THURSDAY 20/2/2014
Red Bull Sebastian Vettel Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso
McLaren Jenson Button Jenson Button
Lotus Romain Grosjean Romain Grosjean
Mercedes AMG Luis Hamilton Nico Rosberg
Sauber Adrian Sutil Esteban Guttierez
Force India Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg
Williams tba tba
Toro Rosso Daniil Kvyat Jean-Eric Vergne
Caterhan Robin Frijns Kamui Kobayashi
Marussia Jules Bianchi Max Chilton
TEAM FRIDAY, 21/2/2014, SATURDAY, 22/2/2014
Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo Daniel Ricciardo
Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen Kimi Raikkonen
Mclaren Kevin Magnussen Kevin Magnussen
Lotus Pastor Maldonado Pastor Maldonado
Mercedes AMG Luis Hamilton Nico Rosberg
Sauber Esteban Guttierez Adrian Sutil
Force India Sergio Perez Sergio Perez
Williams tba tba
Toro Rosso Daniil Kvyat Jean-Eric Vergne
Caterham Marcus Ericsson Kamui Kobayashi
Marussia Jules Bianchi Max Chilton
teams are allowed an overall maximum total of 135 sets of tyres for testing this year, including the in-season tests. The maximum total for the three pre-season tests is 85 sets of tyres: 25 sets for Jerez and 30 each for the two Bahrain tests.The teams will be able to test three slick compounds in Bahrain: hard, medium and soft. On top of this, they will also be able to test the ‘winter’ hard compound, which Pirelli has created to ensure a rapid warm-up even at low temperatures. The teams have asked to try this tyre, designed for Jerez, in Bahrain as well in order to assess how it performs in higher ambient temperatures. The ‘winter” version is recognisable by the fact that it has no markings, whereas the ‘standard’ 2014 hard compound carries orange markings.
Pirelli is also bringing an extra set of medium tyres per team to Bahrain, with 2014 construction and compound. However, these are actually considered to be ‘prototypes’ as their purpose is to test tyre behaviour without warming blankets, which will be banned from 2015 onwards.
Of the 30 sets at each team’s disposal, 22 sets of the four slick tyres (hard, ‘winter’ hard, medium, and soft) are selected by Pirelli in accordance with the teams. The remaining eight sets are chosen by the teams in advance, to suit their individual run plans.
TYRE SET PER TEAM 2013 GP FASTEST TIME
Super soft 0 N/A
Soft 2 N/A
Medium 10 1:32.330
Hard 8 1:36.961
Intermediate 0 N/A
Wet 0 N/A
Prototype-medium 1 N/A
Winter-hard 2 N/A
