With 2021 F1 Season Drawing to a Close, FIA Teases Some Pre-Season Test Dates

With the end of the Turkish Grand Prix 2021, only 6 GPs are left before the F1 family draws the curtains on the 2021 season. With newer rules coming up in 2022, the teams need time off to develop their cars according to the regulations, and the drivers need to adapt to the cars. So, the FIA is busy discussing the winter testing dates, and they’ve just given us some hints on this issue.

All the F1 teams will get more time for practice this time

It is quite apparent that the rule changes for 2022 warrant more practice time. This will help drivers get up to speed with the rules before starting off the season at Bahrain International Circuit (probably).

Formula One F1 – Turkish Grand Prix – Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 10, 2021, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso spins off the track as Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas leads at the start of the race REUTERS/Murad Sezer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

According to reports, all Formula 1 teams are set to get rigorous practice time before the new season commences. As of yet, six test days for 2022 have been planned, with two more dates supposed to be added to the schedule.

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Of the six confirmed practice dates, five will be in Barcelona, from February 21 to 25. And the last three might take place in Bahrain, right before the first Grand Prix of the season. This proposed schedule houses twice the number of practice sessions that the teams were allowed last winter.

This will be the longest winter test session since 2019

Eight practice days is a huge deal in F1. In 2019, the teams had this kind of winter session, and in 2020, they had just six days.

Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – September 26, 2021, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll on the starting grid before the race Pool via REUTERS/Yuri Kochetkov

In 2021, the number was halved to only three practice days. As all F1 fans are aware, several changes in aerodynamics are going to be introduced into this sport to make the racing scene more equal for all teams. These changes were going to happen in 2021, but they were postponed due to COVID-19.

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Will the newer regulations help rising teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren close the gap and catch up to Mercedes in the Championship table? Is the 2022 season going to treat the fans to an even better competition than the one we’re seeing between Hamilton and Verstappen right now? All these questions will be answered in due time, and now, it seems like that time is not too far away!

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