2026 Pre-Season Testing

[BorisTheBlade]

With Testing in Bahrain just around the corner, some food for thought about what we might or might not see regarding energy management in the coming two weeks...

According to https://wgmotorsport.hu/cikk/total-reset Bahrain should be the 3rd best track for energy recovery under braking. This is very much in line with my analysis of the fastest 2025 race lap below.

• Braking | 21,4% | 18,15s | 5.282 KWs
• Partial-Throttle | 35,1% | 29,68s | 3.282 KWs
• Full-Throttle | 64,5% | 54,59s

So even not taking into consideration the roughly 20% increase in time under braking, energy recovery should be sufficient. Additionally, the braking zones are rather evenly spread, so that the energy storage is not a limiting factor.
It is safe to assume that in a normal race simulation we should see next to no full throttle harvesting or LiCo - let alone downshifts at the end of straights.
If they should nevertheless do this, it would be either for the purpose of testing capabilities and strategies, or because there might be a tendency to run lighter.

The interesting thing is, that Melbourne will be on the opposite end of that scale. So at least regarding energy management, Bahrain is not the most representative track.

[AR3-GP]

It's going to be hotter than last year in Bahrain. I think we are going to learn who can control the tire temperatures well.

[Lasssept]

[gromajor]

Like in Barcelona, Mercedes takes very few "medium" tires.
It looks like they interpolate the behavior of these tires from the hard and softs.

[AR3-GP]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

[organic]

Like in Barcelona, Mercedes takes very few "medium" tires.
It looks like they interpolate the behavior of these tires from the hard and softs.

Knowing pirelli, this is unlikely to be a sound approach

[aMessageToCharlie]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA0Noy8WsAA ... name=large

Thanks. Way to ruin an otherwise interesting feature by FIA... Hope they reconsider.

[FNTC]

Yeah, why not open it between 4 and 5, 7-8 and 8-9?

[BorisTheBlade]

Yeah, why not open it between 4 and 5, 7-8 and 8-9?

I understand that the FIA at least want some practical experience under racing conditions.
And they will want to prevent teams taking unnecessary or even disproportionately dangerous risks for marginal gains.

[karana]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA0Noy8WsAA ... name=large

That is the Bahrain circuit.

[AR3-GP]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA0Noy8WsAA ... name=large

That is the Bahrain circuit.

Correct.

[F1_fan]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA0Noy8WsAA ... name=large

So, can they use overtake only on start/finish straight or during the full lap whenever they want after detection point.
I thought it was for the whole lap but i am not sure anymore.

[karana]

Straight mode zones in red. Boring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA0Noy8WsAA ... name=large

That is the Bahrain circuit.

Correct.

Do you know where this is from? It's interesting that they specify the Activation zones for Active Aero in testing, but I guess this makes sense, and the detection and actvation lines for overtake mode. DRS in the past was always free to use in testing if I remember correctly.

[Badger]

So the overtake detection line is a once per lap thing? If you're within one second of the car in front it's activated for the next lap, then if you fall back beyond one second you lose it?

[FNTC]

Active aero open for everyone at all times in the dry. In the red line areas. "Overtake mode" for the electrical motor is as previous DRS was, I think?