F1 News

When does F1 pre-season testing start in 2020?

12 December 2019 at 17:15
  • Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

With the 2019 Formula 1 season in the books it's time to look forward to next year and when we get to see the new title challengers out on track for the first time - check the pre-season schedule here!

Expectation vs. Reality

While pre-season testing does tend to give a good indicator of a team's pace compared to competitors, you should never take the results and statistics as gospel.

In 2019, Ferrari were quickest in pre-season and favourites for the 2019 title before the first Grand Prix. After all, they looked the quickest team by far at the Circuit de Catalunya. The bookies made the Italian works team favourites for the championship. We all know what happened next; Mercedes started the season with five consecutive one-two finishes, a new record in F1.

Haas also looked rapid in pre-season, and while their start to the season was very good, they finished the season in ninth place in the constructors' championship.

So, the way you should look at pre-season should be that it's an indicator of a team's pace but nothing more. Don't draw any conclusions!

Schedule

Week 119-21 February 2020
Week 226-28 February 2020