Everything You Need to Know About the F1 Testing Season 2024

The Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated events in the sports calendar, and now that the Formula One testing season is upon us, we’ve got our eyes peeled for every important detail.

From the 2024 car launches and recent changes to the team, to when and where you can see the action, we’re here to answer all your questions, and tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming F1 Testing Season, 2024.

F1 2024 Car Launches

The dates of the 2024 car launches are as follows:

With the car launches offering a first insight into what to expect for the upcoming season, here’s what we know up to now:

So far, we know that the majority of the new cars are predominantly black. This is a result of the teams running as little paint on the cars as possible to save weight. Even though the weight savings are relatively small, even 0.001 of a second counts when it comes down to the nail-biting battle on the track - particularly at the Abu Dhabi season finale.

It seems that some teams are still struggling to hit the minimum weight limit due to the heavy hybrid power units, and this failure can cost crucial lap time. This also means that teams can't use ballasts in optimum positions around the car, as they would if they were under the weight limit.

As a result, commentators now spectate that this is going to make it hard to identify cars and drivers, made worse by the halo systems introduced in 2018, which cover the drivers helmets now.

When and Where is F1 Pre-Season Testing 2024?

The F1 winter testing race weekend will take place over three days at Bahrain International Circuit. You can catch the action between the 21st and 23rd February.

Practice 1: 21 February, 07:00 – 16:00 (GMT)

Practice 2: 22 February, 07:00 – 16:00 (GMT)

Practice 3: 23 February, 07:00 – 16:00 (GMT)

The pre-season tests will be the only running that the new cars will get, making it important to clock up as many miles as possible. This allows them to analyse the data and use it improve their performance and identify any reliability issues which need to be addressed before the first race of the official F1 calendar begins.

Is F1 Testing on TV?

Don’t miss a single minute of action – tune into the Sky Sports F1 channel, who’ll be running coverage of the full three days of testing.

Normally, there’ll also be a Sky Sports news roundup each evening, along with a half hour notebook with Ted Kravitz. This is a chance to see a small behind-the-scenes look at how things are going for each team, any news stories, and a tech round-up that shows the main changes to the cars from each team for 2024.

What to Look Out for in F1 Testing 2024

There are no driver line-up changes this year, so there’s no need to bed new drivers in on this occasion, which is a tough job over three days with both drivers sharing the days between them. 

One thing to keep your eye on is the tech changes from each team compared to last year. Now in the third year of the current technical regulations, with the previous two years having been dominated by Red Bull, it’s expected that Ferrari and Mercedes will now follow McLaren and Aston Martin's lead from last year in mimicking the Red Bull aerodynamic philosophy. 

The lap times aren't necessarily an indicator of the running order to expect in the first race, as there’s no way of knowing how much fuel each car is running. Plus, we can’t tell what engine settings they are using, whether it’s full power or reduced power to hide their potential speed.

So, what can we expect to see from the teams in 2024?

Expert commentators will be analysing each team’s performance to determine what the possible position of each team will be in the running order come round one. A lot is expected of Mercedes after they re-appointed their former technical director, James Allison, in early 2023 to course correct the team after a tough two years of being badly beaten by Red Bull. Not to mention, this’ll be Lewis Hamilton's final season with the team before he moves to Ferrari for 2025, and we know that he’ll be keen to go out on top after two years without a victory.

Haas will be going into this season with a brand-new team principle, Ayao Komatsu, who’ll be replacing Guenther Steiner. Komatsu has been with the team for eight years, and brings to the role a vast knowledge alongside a close rapport with the people across the business. 

McLaren are also worth watching. After a terrible start last year, they improved significantly when they changed the car’s aerodynamics to mimic those used by Red Bull, leading them to be the second fastest team at most of the races towards the end of the season. But can they maintain this form, or will Mercedes and Ferrari jump back ahead of them?

Red Bull are expected to be well ahead of the rest once more, but the gap should be reduced now that we’re into the third year of the technical regulations. All teams are expected to converge on the Red Bull aero philosophy now, which has proven to be the most effective thanks to their legendary aero chief, Adrian Newey.

"After a shocking change of course from Lewis Hamilton, we can anticipate an exciting season ahead. Hamilton won’t be leaving Mercedes without a bang, so we’re ready for a dramatic year of all-out F1 thrill." - Simon Gee, Spectate Travel Specialist. 

When Does the New F1 Season Start?

The first race of the F1 calendar will take place on 2nd March, at the same venue as the testing in Bahrain. This means that each team will be very well prepared in terms of getting the optimum set up for the circuit. Therefore, the testing should give us a good idea of what each team is currently capable of.

For the first time in the sports history, the opening two races will be held on Saturdays, with qualifying on the Friday. This is being done due to Ramadan as both races will be taking place in the Middle East.

Witness it all first-hand with our exceptional Bahrain Grand Prix packages in 2024.

What Spectate Offers You

The testing is just the beginning, and Spectate will be following every second from the Bahrain Grand Prix to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, so why not join us? We have numerous F1 holiday packages that you can enjoy, that include unforgettable extensions to the likes of the Maldives, Dubai and even Niagara Falls. Just pick the race you want to attend, and we can sort the rest.

We have all bases covered, from unrivalled seating and luxurious accommodation to superb hospitality, including our very own Spectate Platinum Hospitality Suite at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – you won’t want to miss that one!

Book your F1 holiday package today if you want to be in the heart of nail-biting action and passion.

Make your next trip to the Formula 1 Grand Prix with Spectate in 2024. With expert, first-hand knowledge, our team can tailor-make your stay beyond the races. Bask in luxury hotels and dine on superb cuisine and much more to make your Grand Prix weekend an exceptional experience.