What we learned from 2024 Bahrain testing

The 2024 Formula 1 preseason test at Bahrain International Circuit provided the first real indication of which teams made gains over the winter and which will be leading the charge when the season starts.

While reigning champions Red Bull remain the team to beat, others like Mercedes and Ferrari seem to have made progress in addressing weaknesses.

With a grueling 24 race calendar, the longest in F1 history, consistency and reliability will be more important than ever.

The three days of running at the Sakhir circuit hinted at who made the right calls over the winter and who might be on the back foot.

Red Bull's design gamble pays off

The Milton Keynes squad swept to dominance in 2022, winning 17 of 22 Grand Prix.

For 2023, Red Bull has doubled down on aggressive concepts, as evidenced by the sidepod inlets and chunky shoulders of the RB20.

This design risk appears to have paid dividends, with Max Verstappen setting the pace on day one and glowing feedback from the team.

"The important thing was to validate the correlation between the factory and the track. And that has occurred positively, which is encouraging," said Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

Reigning champion Verstappen concurred, "The car is definitely an improvement over last year's."

Rivals like Mercedes' George Russell believe Red Bull has a "step ahead of everyone else."

Mercedes and Ferrari

Mercedes struggled with porpoising and inconsistencies in the temperamental W14 last season.

Ferrari grappled with wildly fluctuating pace as conditions changed. Both spent the winter targeting these problems at the foundation.

While ultimate pace remains unkown, positive signs emerged regarding baseline improvements.

"We know exactly where we need to improve this year. The car is consistent and we can push the development ahead," said Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Following three days of testing in Bahrain, Ferrari has solidified its position as the second-best team in terms of performance, closely trailing behind the consensus front-runner, Red Bull.

Mercedes driver George Russell added, "We're in a much better place mechanics-wise than 12 months ago."

Stable platforms to build upon with aerodynamic updates will be crucial.

Alpine and Williams

With regulation changes opening development opportunities, some midfield teams gambled on sweeping concept changes.

Alpine has carried over only the steering wheel from its 2022 car, while Williams has targeted creating a more well-rounded package.

However, both teams acknowledged these overhaul designs are not yet optimized.

"We know it’s not going to be an easy start of the season. But if it’s the right choice we’ll see," said Alpine's Pierre Gasly.

Williams driver Alex Albon agreed the FW46 needs refinement but offers more long-term potential.

The sweeping changes by both teams seem set to hamper initial competitiveness.

Haas

Haas spent much of testing conducting extensive race simulations, following disastrous Sunday drop-offs in 2023.

“Our focus is trying to be good on a Sunday," said Kevin Magnussen.

The American squad completed the most laps of any team (441) over the three days, allowing them to gather ample data on tire degradation.

"There's lots more work to do, but we've got a base car that we can actually race," said new Haas technical director Ayao Komatsu.

Keeping tires alive and strategy will be equally as important as raw speed for the US-owned team.

24-race calendar

The extensive 24-race calendar, including 6 Sprint events, will push teams to their operational limits.

With 50% more races than in 2001, personnel burnout becomes a real risk.

Teams have already begun rotating staff and optimizing efficiency in anticipation of the unrelenting schedule.

"We know from experience that such demands can take their toll on personnel. We must look after our people and rotate roles where possible." said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Reliability, personnel management and resilience to pressure will be more vital than ever across the longest Formula 1 season yet.

In summary, preseason running indicates Red Bull remains the team to beat, while Mercedes and Ferrari seem to have made key improvements.

Midfield gambles by Alpine and Williams likely hamper their early season potential.

With 24 demanding races, consistency and operations excellence will be essential.