Green lights on the Bahrain pre-season testing session
Formula 1 is ready to turn its engines on for the second session of pre-season testing. The Circus will head to Bahrain where weather is expected to be warmer than in the first session and we’ll see the Lotus E22, driven by Grosjean and Maldonado, making its debut on the Arabic track. The Frenchman will be the first to drive the car and he will give way to his new teammate for the last two days (Friday and Saturday).
All eyes will be on the V6 Renault engine and on Red Bull, who started a troublesome season, completing only 21 laps. The reigning World Champion will have to do an intensive work in Bahrain, after working hard in the team’s factory. The first driver to get behind the wheel of the new car, designed by Adrian Newey, on the two first test days will be Sebastian Vettel, who following will give way to his partner Daniel Ricciardo. The French engine manufacturer will rely on all data gained by his partners to get prepared to debut in Melbourne.
Mercedes will try to maintain the good performance level displayed on the Spanish track, with Hamilton and Rosberg ready to make a relay race behind the wheel of the new W05. The two drivers will take turns making the car and engine development program progress. After a solid start in Spain, where Alonso and Raikkonen managed to run more than 1000 km, the Maranello-based team will go ahead with the fine tuning of the new F14-T, bringing some important upgrades to the Arabic track. After winning two constructors’ Championships, one drivers’ championship and taking 39 wins, getting 122 podium finish, 29 pole positions and scoring 48 best laps when it was powered by the 056 8 cylinders-2.4-liter aspirated engine (from 2006 to 2013), the F14-T will be turbocharged by the new-born 059/3 power unit. It will be a solid re-start for the Italian team, who completed more than 400 laps thanks to the contribution of the partners Marussia and Sauber, demonstrating a good level of reliability.
Eyes locked on the Mercedes-powered Williams driven by Massa and Bottas who will try to get redemption after experiencing a troublesome 2013. On the last day of testing at Jerez, the English team delivered the best performance, leaving a positive mark. The team will still bring a hybrid-dark-blue livery to the second pre-season session in Bahrain, before officially announcing the partnership with Martini Racing. The new livery – white with the traditional blue and red stripes which made the Turin-based company well-known in the world of car racing – will be unveiled on the occasion of the third and last pre-season test session to be held in Bharain from February 27th to March 2nd.
By McLaren, Kevin Magnussen will be the first to bring the new MP4-29 to the Arabic track, his teammate Button will wrap up the session. At Jerez Magnussen drew attention on himself by setting the best chrono on the third day of the first session. Sauber has announced his cooperation with Simona De Silvestro. The goal is to allow the Swiss driver who is currently engaged in the Indycar series to get the Superlicenza. De Silvestro will join the two test drivers Giedo Van Der Garde (serving as a reserve driver) and Sergey Sirotkin.
