2022 Formula 1 pre-season testing: schedule, driver line-up and how to follow it. 2022 Formula 1 testing: how to follow it .

The 2022 Formula One pre-season testing sessions will take place at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, which will also host the first round of the new championship. The first test, which is scheduled to take place between 23-25 February in Spain, is actually officially considered a shakedown: while the testing session will be carried out in a normal method, it will not feature live TV coverage, live timing and fans will not be allowed to attend.

The second pre-season test in Bahrain will revert to the traditional format and fans can follow the events from the stands, while live TV coverage and live timing will also be available. This secon testing session is scheduled for 10-12 March, just one week ahead of the opening round of the 2022 Formula 1 campaign.

In Barcelona, each day will see the track open from 8am GMT until 5pm GMT, with a lunch break of one hour, which can in fact be removed if needed, with the goal of making up for lost track time that could occur due to crashes or bad weather conditions leading to red flags. Overall, a maximum of nine hours of track time is available for each day.

The Bahrain test will follow the same track session format, starting an hour later in the day (local time) due to both the better weather conditions and floodlights at the Bahrain International Circuit. Track action will also be split by a one-hour lunch interval which can be overridden in order to make up for lost track time.

How to follow the first pre-season testing session at the Circuit de Catalunya
The Barcelona Formula 1 test will unfortunately not have live TV coverage or live timing, because it has been officially classified only as a shakedown for teams which should give them the possibility to get a first contact with the new procedures and technical regulations for this season. However, Formula 1 will release a final timing classification at the end of each day, including highlights and a round-up.

ScuderiaFans will be running live text coverage on the Barcelona Formula 1 testing session during the three days, starting tomorrow.

Bahrain will be a much more highly-anticipated event given the fact that the testing session will have live TV coverage and also live timing, similar to the broadcast set-up to a traditional grand prix event, with details on the TV coverage to be confirmed soon. ScuderiaFans will also be running live text and results coverage during th three days at the Bahrain International Circuit (10-12 March)

Why is Barcelona testing not being televised?
The call not to live broadcast the first pre-season test in Barcelona, and the event being run behind closed doors without access for the public, has been made as a result of an idea which determined teams to change the wider plan for pre-season testing this year.

Last season, the series decided to reduce the pre-season testing session to just three days in Bahrain, which of course were broadcasted live and with live timing, becase the cars from 2021 were basically the same as in the previous season. However, given the introduction of the completely new technical regulation for 2022 and the new generation of Formula 1 challengers, it was considered that thee extra days would help teams better understand the new cars on track.

As a result, the second test is seen as the official pre-season test and will take palce in the same format to last year’s test with live coverage, timing and public access.

Why is Formula 1 pre-season testing being split between two venues in 2022?
Taking into consideration the better ambient temperatures and weather conditions in Barcelona at this moment of year and the Circuit de Catalunya track characteristics offering several high, medium and low speed corners, the track has been the usual locaation for pre-season testing in the last few seasons.

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One other important aspect is its relatively central location. This makes it easy for all Formula 1 teams to bring the necessary equipment given the fast transport access to Barcelona airport. Teams often to fly in new parts or late developments during the test, which is more difficult to do at venues like Bahrain.

Sakhir will then host the second pre-season test as it is also a good location given the weather and circuit characteristics, while the Bahrain International Circuit is also hosting the first race of the new F1 championship which means from a logistical point of view it is easy for teams to just stay at the venue after the testing session is over and until the opening round.

Driver line-up for the 2022 Formula 1 pre-season testing sessions
The rules for the pre-season testing session state that F1 teams are allowed to use just one car during the test (except for mule cars permitted for tyre testing if needed by Pirelli), meaning the teams have split the driving tasks between each of its drivers plus any reserve or test drivers. This is also a cost-preventing method while also prevents the top teams from having the possibility of out-developing opponents just by being able to run two or more challengers.

Taking into consideration the new generation of Formula 1 cars and likely handling characteristic changes, it is expected that the vast majority of the tests will be completed by the 2022 race drivers to given them as much time on track as possible and therefore be able to quickly adapt to the new cars.

Here is the current list of what drivers are in action for each team for the first pre-season testing session at the Circuit de Catalunya. For now Scuderia Ferrari has not confirmed its schedule for the three-day testing in Barcelona.