Steiner plays down hopes for Bahrain testing

  • Published on 01 Mar 2018 09:24
  • comments 4
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Gunther Steiner has played down hopes F1 might head to Bahrain for winter testing next year. With uncharacteristic snow falling in Barcelona, the ten teams failed to agree unanimously to extend this week's first test: "It's hard to imagine two of us agreeing, let alone ten," said Steiner, the Haas team boss.

Many paddock figures think that trying to do all the winter testing in Europe is a mistake: "Even in good weather it can be pointless," said Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost. "It's so difficult to bring these tyres up to temperature. For years I've been trying to get us to test in Bahrain or Abu Dhabi, but unfortunately not everyone shares my opinion," he told Speed Week. "Maybe they'll change their minds now."

The big hurdle to Bahrain testing seems to be costs, but Steiner said logistics are also an issue for the European-based teams: "You have no idea how many new parts we get each day. It's unbelievable," he said.

"From England or Italy you put the parts in a van, drive eight hours and it's here. We have people driving back and forth all the time. If we go to Bahrain, only some teams can be organising private flights to deliver the new parts," Steiner added.

Replies (4)

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  • I realize that its takes more preparation and money to test in Bahrain, but to test in Barcelona, with cold track and conditions that wont meet what we usually have midseason, Data is data, as I've said earlier, and of course any data is useful, but I think this data will be of lower value compared to what they'd get in Bahrain.

    • + 0
    • Mar 1 2018 - 16:33
    • RogerF1

      Posts: 501

      Agreed and they only van the parts over because they can and this extends their development time. If it’s Bahrain they will have to be ready in time and stock up on spares. New parts can be fed in for the 2nd test. But then again, testing isn’t really a ‘fan’ event is it so it will be up to them if they develop the car on the first races in a bad test year. McLaren had a good dose of this but not fro: the weather :-)

      • + 0
      • Mar 1 2018 - 16:47
    • Pauli

      Posts: 140

      There would be daily flights between Bahrain and Rome and London at least. I would be shocked if teams couldn't find a way to make agreement for daily shipments during testing for low enough price not to cost much more than Van trip from Italy to Barcelona (that isn't free either).

      But major cost is to ship all initial equipment there and then back again because that requires multiple cargo airplanes instead of just multiple trucks to Barcelona.

      • + 0
      • Mar 1 2018 - 17:11
  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    They’re a good way to Oz at Bahrain, just pack up and carry on.

    • + 0
    • Mar 1 2018 - 22:47

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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