Pre-season test Bahrein: day 1

Formula 1 2023: Bahrain February Testing — BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 23: Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23 during the Bahrain February Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday February 23, 2023 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)

Today was the first day of pre-season testing. All teams joined to gather and learn as much information about their new car as possible. With only 3 days of testing before the season kicks of the next weekend the upcoming days are very valuable.

Haas presentation

The day for Haas F1 started with the presentation of the VF-23, although we already have seen the renders and some photo’s from the shakedown at Silverstone before, today is the first time we can have a good look at their car.

For the presentation besides both the Haas drivers Nico and Kevin, also reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi and Team Principle Guenther Steiner were present at the circuit.

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 23: Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas F1 reserve driver, Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 team principal and Kevin Magnussen, pose behind the Haas VF-23. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

Morning session

Nico Hulkenberg kicked off the morning session with some sessions focusing on reliability testing. He had some good baseline runs and totaled 51 laps in the morning before he handed over the wheel to Kevin.

Nico felt it was a productive morning and most of all he was happy to be back in an F1 car : “It feels good to be back! It’s been an exciting few days but I’m happy to now put the ‘theory’ aside and start the practical part of the job, get in the car again, and live it.”

Best time: 1:34.424 (p11)
total laps: 51
mileage: 276 km

Nico Hulkenberg,(Photo by Mark Sutton / LAT Images)

Afternoon session

Kevin Magnussen did the afternoon session and continued with helping the team to learn the characteristics of the new car. Using aero racks and flow vision spray paint the team could gather valuable information. Kevin totally did 57 laps.

Kevin felt the first day of practice went smooth :”We had a few little issues but we got through what we planned – maybe two laps were missed!”

He told their focus for today was to check if all systems were working properly and getting to learn about the car. he said: “we haven’t got anywhere near qualifying simulations yet so we’ll see tomorrow when we get slightly closer to those levels, but I’m pretty happy so far” .

Best time: 1:35.087 (p19)
total laps: 57
mileage: 308 km

Kevin Magnussen, (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

Timetables and live coverage of testing

The Red bull car looked quick again this year with Max verstappen leading the timetable at the end of the day and Fernando Alonso also, quite surprisingly, just behind him in 2nd place with the Aston Martin. The Haas drivers finished 11th and 19th.

We must say that looking at the timetable says nothing, we do not know what test program and with how much fuel each team was testing.

The classification of day one of testing can be found here.

Are you interested in watching the live coverage of the test days? Then I would recommend an F1TV subscription. With F1tv you can watch live coverage of the full F1 season, including testing and races. Also you can find some documentaries and archived races.

Come back tomorrow for more news about day two of testing!