Scuderia Ferrari is planning to give its 2019 Formula 1 challenger its on-track debut the day before the start of pre-season testing. Like last year, the Maranello team intends to utilise one of its two permitted promotional events to shake down its car before the first of two tests at the Barcelona circuit.
Ferrari’s 2019 car, known as the ‘670’ internally, will be officially launched at the team’s Maranello headquarters on February 15, while the plan is to run the car for the first time on-track two days later in Spain, before the first four-day test begins at the same circuit on February 18. However, if the Italian side will face any delays to its planned promotional work on the morning of February 17, it is expected to postpone the filming day until after the first test is completed.
Teams are allowed to conduct two promotional events per season.
F1 regulations state that these days must take place “purely for marketing or promotional purposes”, with a maximum of 100km of running and using special demonstration-specification Pirelli tyres. However, they are also a useful way of checking for any teething problems or potential setbacks before the start of testing that would jeapordise crucial pre-season mileage.
Ferrari customer team Sauber has also been linked with an early shakedown. A promotional event at Ferrari’s Italian test track Fiorano has been rumoured for February 14.
F1’s pre-season key dates so far
February 12 Renault launch
February 13 Racing Point launch
February 14 McLaren launch
February 15 Ferrari launch
February 18-21 First pre-season test
February 26-March 1 Second pre-season test
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