The highly anticipated 2023 Formula 1 season is on the brink of commencing, with teams and drivers having just completed a compressed three-day pre-season testing schedule in Bahrain. This single test served as the solitary opportunity for all ten teams to fine-tune their new challengers ahead of what promises to be F1’s longest-ever championship calendar. Unlike previous years with more extensive testing, this brief window makes definitive conclusions challenging to draw. Yet, the sessions offered crucial insights, revealing flashes of brilliance, concerning issues, and hints about the pecking order as the motorsport world descends upon Sakhir for the season opener. While outright pace often remains elusive during testing, the consistency, reliability, and driver feedback provide a valuable barometer of each team’s readiness. Below is an in-depth analysis of how each Formula 1 team fared, reflecting on their performance and their outlook as the grid prepares for the curtain-raiser.
2023 Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing: Team-by-Team Analysis from Bahrain
Red Bull Racing
Combined testing laps: 413 – 2,235km (5th)
Max Verstappen: 1’32.837 (11th) – 204 laps (10th)
Sergio Perez: 1’30.305 (1st) – 209 laps (9th)
For the reigning double world champions, Red Bull Racing, the 2023 pre-season test was nothing short of a dominant display. Having secured 30 victories in the last 50 Grands Prix, their confidence was palpable, and their performance in Bahrain only served to solidify their position as the clear favorites heading into the new season. The champions hit the ground running, showcasing an alarming level of inherent speed and remarkable reliability from the outset.
Red Bull topped the timing sheets on two of the three days, with Sergio Perez setting a blistering pace on the final day that comfortably surpassed Charles Leclerc’s pole position time from the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. Perhaps even more ominous was Max Verstappen’s performance on the second day. The Dutchman effortlessly surpassed his best time from day one on his very first timed lap, a chilling demonstration of instant pace that will undoubtedly send shivers down the spines of their rivals at Ferrari and Mercedes. Crucially, the RB19 appeared bulletproof, suffering no significant reliability concerns throughout the rigorous three days. This potent combination of raw speed and faultless reliability has left the paddock in no doubt: Red Bull Racing is once again the benchmark.
“A very successful end to the test with another day of uninterrupted running. It has been a positive three days for the team, but there are always areas for improvement, and the focus will be on trying to extract more performance gains before next week.”
Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Race Engineering, Red Bull Racing
Scuderia Ferrari
Combined testing laps: 417 – 2,256km (3rd)
Charles Leclerc: 1’31.024 (4th) – 199 laps (13th)
Carlos Sainz Jnr: 1’31.036 (5th) – 218 laps (6th)
Ferrari entered the 2023 pre-season with a new team principal, Frederic Vasseur, and a keen desire to erase the memory of their promising 2022 campaign that ultimately faltered. While their 2022 pre-season was hugely encouraging, leading to an opening race victory, the subsequent mid-season collapse led to significant personnel changes. This year’s test, while far from disastrous, didn’t inspire the same level of immediate confidence for a repeat of their Bahrain success.
The SF-23 demonstrated respectable pace, with Charles Leclerc briefly holding the fastest time mid-way through Saturday. Both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jnr reported clear progress in the car’s straight-line performance, suggesting Ferrari might be a formidable challenger in the speed trap battles this season. Reliability, a significant Achilles’ heel in 2022, seemed much improved, with the team completing three trouble-free days. This is a crucial step for a team whose title charge last year was derailed by mechanical issues. However, the final session raised some concerns, as Ferrari appeared notably slower than Red Bull on identical tire compounds, and signs of higher tire degradation compared to their closest rivals were also evident. For a team aiming for a championship, not just race wins, these factors will be a key focus in the days leading up to the Grand Prix.
“The main target was getting as much mileage under our belt as possible and we did that, although it’s also true that you always want to do more and have more time. But it’s the same for everyone. The mood in the team is perfect and we are in a good shape to start this long season.”
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Combined testing laps: 398 – 2,153km (7th)
George Russell: 1’31.442 (8th) – 178 laps (16th)
Lewis Hamilton: 1’30.664 (2nd) – 220 laps (4th)
After a challenging 2022 season that saw them fail to contend for the championship for the first time in nine years, Mercedes approached 2023 pre-season testing with immense determination to rectify their issues. Unfortunately, the three days in Bahrain didn’t deliver the immediate step forward they had intensely hoped for. While significantly better than their problematic 2022 Bahrain test with the W13, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were candid about the W14 not being exactly where they wanted it to be.
On the positive side, the notoriously disruptive porpoising issue that plagued their 2022 car appears to have been largely eradicated, a significant achievement according to Russell. Hamilton also managed to set the second-fastest time overall on the final day, demonstrating the W14’s potential. However, this impressive lap was achieved on the softest C5 tire compound, unlike Red Bull and Ferrari who set their best times on harder tires. A hydraulic failure on Friday was a minor blip, particularly noticeable given the rock-solid reliability of their main competitors. More concerning were Hamilton’s persistent complaints about the car’s balance, an issue that could hinder their early-season performance. Russell’s observation about the “long season ahead” subtly hints at an acknowledgment that Mercedes might not be in the immediate hunt for victories, suggesting a development race will be crucial for them.
“It’s clear that we still have work to do on car pace but today has given us a much more coherent picture of where we need to focus our efforts. We’ll be using the time ahead of next weekend to go through the data we’ve collected, and aim to extract a bit more lap time.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
BWT Alpine F1 Team
Combined testing laps: 353 – 1,910km (9th)
Esteban Ocon: 1’33.257 (20th) – 178 laps (15th)
Pierre Gasly: 1’32.762 (17th) – 175 laps (17th)
Alpine, who secured a commendable fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship last year, entered 2023 with a clear objective: to close the substantial gap to the top three teams. Pre-season testing for the French outfit proved to be somewhat enigmatic, leaving observers pondering their true potential. The team finished the test with the slowest combined fastest times of all ten teams and were one of only two teams (alongside McLaren) that failed to breach the 2,000km mark, raising questions about their overall program completion.
The A523 appeared visibly stiff on the Bahrain International Circuit, with Esteban Ocon notably experiencing lock-ups under braking and running wide at Turn 1 on multiple occasions. Despite these visual cues, Ocon expressed satisfaction with the car’s long-run performance, suggesting that Alpine might have prioritized race pace over single-lap glory runs. The team was also transparent about their strategy, openly stating their disinterest in chasing headlines with low-fuel runs. Furthermore, Alpine has already confirmed that two significant upgrades will be introduced for the first race, indicating a continuous development push. This pragmatic approach might mean their true pace is yet to be fully revealed.
“It’s been a very consistent and conservative pre-season test for the team where we’ve remained committed to our programme to ensure we are as best prepared as we can be for the season ahead.”
Otmar Szafnauer, Team Principal, BWT Alpine F1 Team
McLaren F1 Team
Combined testing laps: 312 – 1,688km (10th)
Lando Norris: 1’32.160 (13th) – 142 laps (19th)
Oscar Piastri: 1’33.175 (19th) – 170 laps (18th)
For McLaren fans, the 2023 pre-season test painted a worrying picture, reminiscent of their troubled start to 2022. The Woking-based squad endured the most difficult three days in Bahrain, spending less time on track and more time in the garage than any of their rivals. Both Lando Norris and rookie Oscar Piastri completed the fewest laps of any full-time driver, a clear indicator of their struggles.
Unlike 2022, where a fundamental braking issue was quickly identified, McLaren’s problems this year seemed more nuanced. A significant amount of time was dedicated to preemptively fortifying certain components of the MCL60 to prevent potential failures, rather than responding to existing issues. Team CEO Zak Brown openly admitted that the team had missed some of its pre-season development targets, tempering expectations for the early part of the season. Reports of Norris’s visible frustration circulating on social media underscored the challenging situation. It appears McLaren is facing an uphill battle, at least until their first major upgrade package arrives in late April, meaning the initial races could be tough.
“I would say our objective through the season is to be a top four car. At the moment I would say we are not necessarily in this range.”
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team
Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
Combined testing laps: 402 – 2,175km (6th)
Valtteri Bottas: 1’30.827 (3rd) – 202 laps (11th)
Zhou Guanyu: 1’31.610 (10th) – 200 laps (12th)
Alfa Romeo proved to be one of the pleasant surprises of early 2022, despite a fragmented testing program. Heading into 2023, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu appear significantly better prepared and more optimistic. After reliability proved to be their Achilles’ heel last season, both drivers expressed confidence that the C43 represents a tangible improvement in this critical area, which was their main focus.
While not entirely without incident – Zhou experienced a suspected problem during a practice start, and Bottas briefly stopped on track – the team swiftly addressed these minor issues, losing minimal track time. More importantly, Bottas was highly complimentary of the new car’s handling, claiming it was “50% better” than last season. He backed this up with an impressive third-fastest time on the final day, ahead of both Ferraris, utilizing the C5 soft tires. This strong showing, combined with improved reliability, suggests Alfa Romeo could once again be in a position to challenge for points from the very first race, aiming to replicate their strong start to 2022 and build upon it throughout the season.
“We can be satisfied about these three days of solid work. We collected plenty of data and I feel we’ve prepared for the season as best as we could. Performance wasn’t yet our main aim: we didn’t focus on what the others were doing but simply looked at ourselves.”
Jan Monchaux, Technical Director, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team
Combined testing laps: 387 – 2,094km (8th)
Fernando Alonso: 1’31.450 (9th) – 270 laps (1st)
Felipe Drugovich: 1’32.075 (12th) – 117 laps (20th)
Aston Martin emerged as arguably the most intriguing team of the 2023 pre-season, with their rivals taking considerable notice of their performance. The arrival of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso had already generated significant buzz around the AMR23’s launch. However, it was Alonso’s consistent presence in the top five on the timing screens throughout the three days that truly raised eyebrows across the paddock, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner openly acknowledging Aston Martin’s “big step.”
With Lance Stroll sidelined due to injury, Alonso benefited from an extended run in the car, logging the most mileage of any individual driver. Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, who stands ready to step in if Stroll is unfit, also gained invaluable experience with over 100 laps. Alonso’s unwavering confidence, declaring “a lot of potential left to unlock” from the new car, signals a genuine belief within the team. The strong and consistent performance, coupled with rival observations, suggests that being an Aston Martin fan could be a much more rewarding experience this season.
“We managed to complete our run plan and got a number of laps on the board with both drivers. The car ran reliably and again we managed to gather a lot of data. We are still getting to understand the car and learning about various operational and procedural matters, but we have made good progress.”
Tom McCullough, Performance Director, Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
Combined testing laps: 413 – 2,245km (4th)
Kevin Magnussen: 1’31.381 (7th) – 219 laps (5th)
Nico Hulkenberg: 1’32.466 (15th) – 196 laps (14th)
Haas’s 2023 pre-season testing was a marked improvement over their previous year, primarily because their car, the VF-23, arrived in Bahrain on time and performed flawlessly. In stark contrast to 2022, the VF-23 proved to be remarkably reliable, completing more mileage in three days than they managed across two full tests last pre-season. This reliability allowed the team to gather extensive data and conduct a thorough testing program.
Veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg, returning to a full-time seat, quickly found his rhythm, demonstrating his experience and adaptability. Kevin Magnussen further contributed by completing a full race simulation, providing critical data for understanding tire degradation and race pace ahead of the season opener. Their reserve driver, Pietro Fittipaldi (who didn’t test this year), offered an intriguing assessment of their potential, suggesting Haas could find themselves “between seventh and maybe fifth” in the competitive midfield. The clean and productive test has undoubtedly bolstered the team’s confidence heading into the new campaign.
“The whole team came here very well prepared – we did our homework – so when we arrived, we were ready to go, and you could see that. It’s difficult to say still but we are in the midfield, let’s see if we’re at the top or the end of the midfield but we’re now ready for the race next weekend.”
Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
Scuderia AlphaTauri
Combined testing laps: 456 – 2,467km (1st)
Yuki Tsunoda: 1’31.261 (6th) – 210 laps (8th)
Nyck de Vries: 1’32.222 (14th) – 246 laps (2nd)
AlphaTauri certainly won the prize for mileage accumulation during pre-season testing. Between Yuki Tsunoda and new teammate Nyck de Vries, the AT04 completed an impressive 2,467km, more than any other team. This exceptional reliability is a massive boost for a smaller team like AlphaTauri, as the sheer volume of data collected is invaluable for development and understanding the car’s characteristics.
Tsunoda notably conducted a full race simulation on day two, providing crucial insights into the AT04’s long-run performance and tire management. While Tsunoda posted a respectable sixth-quickest time of the test, De Vries, leveraging his extensive experience from driving four different 2022 cars last year, reported some “limitations” with the car’s handling. This honest feedback will be vital for the team’s development path. Modest in their aspirations, Chief Race Engineer Jonathan Eddolls stated that AlphaTauri “should be able to put up a fight with the midfield,” suggesting they aim to be competitive in the tight battle for points.
“Overall, this test has been very busy and challenging at times, but I’m very pleased to see some good progress being made in understanding our package and the car running very reliably.”
Jody Eggington, Technical Director, Scuderia AlphaTauri
Williams Racing
Combined testing laps: 439 – 2,375km (2nd)
Alexander Albon: 1’32.793 (18th) – 210 laps (7th)
Logan Sargeant: 1’32.549 (16th) – 229 laps (3rd)
Williams Racing’s 2023 Bahrain pre-season test marked a significant improvement over their 2022 outing, if only for the absence of any spontaneous combustion incidents. More importantly, the FW45 proved to be remarkably trouble-free, allowing the team to conduct an extensive and productive testing program. In fact, only AlphaTauri completed more laps, highlighting Williams’s excellent reliability and operational efficiency.
Rookie driver Logan Sargeant benefited immensely from this reliability, pounding out an impressive 229 laps over his two days in the car, including a mammoth 154 laps on Saturday. This extensive mileage has provided him with an unparalleled level of preparation for his Grand Prix debut. While neither Albon nor Sargeant set the timing sheets alight, finishing near the bottom of the overall pace order, an encouraging statistic emerged: Williams gained more lap time between their 2022 and 2023 Bahrain tests than any other team. This bodes well for the start of the James Vowles era, suggesting a positive trajectory for the historic British team and a hopeful step towards climbing the grid.
“In terms of mileage, we’ve had a very good three days. We’re definitely in a better place in comparison to this time last year, it’s just more about how far we can take it.”
Alexander Albon, Driver, Williams Racing
Exploring the 2023 F1 Season and Beyond
The 2023 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain offered a tantalizing glimpse into what awaits fans in the upcoming championship. While Red Bull undoubtedly stands out as the early front-runner, the midfield battle appears incredibly tight and unpredictable. Ferrari and Mercedes have work to do, while Aston Martin emerged as a genuine dark horse. McLaren faces a steep challenge, and the remaining teams show varying degrees of progress and potential. The stage is now set for the first race, where the true pecking order will begin to emerge, promising an exhilarating season filled with intense competition and thrilling narratives. Stay informed with our continuous coverage of the Formula 1 world.
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