The reigning champions of the 2023 F1 season, who have secured victory in 21 out of 22 races, unveiled their new RB20 vehicle last week. The design elements of the car bear resemblance to those previously experimented with and discarded by rival team Mercedes in the previous season. Despite initial doubts, the truth behind these similarities will become apparent on Wednesday. However, it is important to note that the lap times during testing may not hold significant meaning as teams engage in various developmental programs.
Bernie Collins, a former performance engineer at McLaren and current strategist for Aston Martin, expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of the launch car. In a podcast with Sky Sports F1, Collins stated, “Let us witness the true performance of the car on the first day in Bahrain, as I am uncertain if it will truly be the same car unveiled during the launch. This could potentially be a mere jest. Hence, my suspicions are heightened. If they do present the same car, it would be a bold and courageous move, as they could have easily continued developing their existing car, which would have been the safer choice. By choosing to proceed with this car, they must have identified certain elements that give them confidence in surpassing the performance of their previous development.”
The investigation into allegations made against Horner, who will be present in Bahrain, by a female employee is yet to be concluded. Horner has denied any wrongdoing. The teams of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin all aspire to narrow the gap between themselves and Verstappen, who is striving for his fourth consecutive F1 title this season. However, the true hierarchy among these teams may not become evident for some time.
Seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton will address the media for the first time since his move to Ferrari in 2025 was announced. This will provide him with a clearer understanding of the competitive nature of his Mercedes car. There is also considerable interest surrounding the renamed Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri team, now known as Visa Cash App RB, as they have established closer ties with the main Red Bull team and may possess a more competitive vehicle.
Due to the expansion of the championship to a record-breaking 24 races, teams are only allotted three days of testing with one car each. The track time has been reduced accordingly. Consequently, drivers will have only one and a half days of practice on the track before the season opener on March 2. The first two races, held in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, will take place on Saturdays to accommodate the start of Ramadan on March 10.
During the launch of his team’s car, Fernando Alonso, a double world champion with Aston Martin, expressed his belief that there should be more time allocated for testing and more cars on the track. He questioned the decision to limit teams to one car, stating, “I do not understand why we are not allowed to have two cars, especially when we are already in Bahrain and racing the following week.” (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
According to the Source grandprix247.com