Pirelli: F1 teams ‘working hard’ to reduce overheating’ in new cars as Ferrari goes fastest

Pirelli revealed that Formula 1’s teams worked hard on “adapting the new cars to the tyres” in the final pre-season Formula 1 test in Bahrain, focusing on the prevention of overheating. 19 drivers from all the teams completed several long runs, supplying plenty of data to analyse in preparation the 2024, which commences on 29 February at the same circuit. Pirelli said the information gathered from the test is very important, especially to confirm if the aerodynamic load simulations provided by the teams over the winter break have been correlated in reality on track.

“I’d say that on this front there have been no major surprises,” said Mario Isola, director of Pirelli Motorsport, speaking on the final day of pre-season practice. “Once again today, we saw the teams working hard on adapting the new cars to the tyres, especially when it comes to reducing overheating as much as possible, a phenomenon that progressively came to light last year and on which we are focusing our attention, looking ahead to 2025.”

1,232 laps were completed in total on the final day, equivalent to 6,667.584 kilometres. The C3 was again out in front as the most popular compound (744 laps), followed by the C1 (312) and the C2 (115). The C4 was used twice as much as yesterday with 55 laps, which shows how several drivers were looking for outright performance, even if that particular compound is not being used in Bahrain for the opening race weekend. Over the whole three day test, teams covered 19,954.044km.

Ferrari fastest

Ferrari topped the testing time sheet on two days out of the three. Following Carlos Sainz on day two, Charles Leclerc topped the classification on the final day. Behind the wheel for the second part of the day, the Monegasque stopped the clocks in 1:30.322 on a set of new C4s. Sainz’s 1:29.921 lap on day two was the quickest of the test.

In the closing stages of day three, George Russell’s Mercedes went close to Leclerc’s best time, claiming second place just 46 thousandths slower. The Englishman was running the same tyre compound and made the most of the faster track as the surface temperature dropped. A last-minute surprise came in the form of Zhou Guanyu who was third quickest in the Stake F1 in 1:30.647 on the C4. Three-time world champion Max Verstappen was fourth (1:30.755, C3) with Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) fifth in 1:30.775 (C4).

Pirelli made the point that testing times do not necessarily give any indication on what will happen when racing begins in earnest on Thursday. Many unknown factors which have a significant impact on performance, starting with what fuel loads were used when the quick times were set, as well as the fact the teams are not all working to the same programme.

19 drivers were out on track today, with only Sargeant (Williams) spectating. The morning session was stopped for around 80 minutes after a drain cover came adrift when Sergio Perez drove over it in the Red Bull. As a result, the lunch break was cancelled and from then on the session ran all the way to 19h00 with no interruptions.