Driver line-up for final pre-season test in Bahrain

2014 F1 season

Posted on

| Written by

The final pre-season test of 2014 begins in Bahrain tomorrow and all bar one of the teams have confirmed their driver line-up for the four days of running.

World champions Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will be on-track together for the final day of the test on Sunday, two weeks before the first race of the season begins in Melbourne.

Heading into the final test Marussia driver Max Chilton has covered the least distance so far, managing just 135km, will team mate Jules Bianchi completing little more than that.

Daniel Ricciardo is another driver whose total running so far amount to less than a race distance. He will spend the first two days of the test at the wheel of Red Bull’s RB10, which has proved troublesome so far.

Williams are yet to confirm the running order of their drivers in full but Valtteri Bottas has indicated he will drive the car on day one of the test.

Here is the line-up for the final four days of testing:

TeamThursday 27thFriday 28thSaturday 1stSunday 2nd
Red BullDaniel RicciardoDaniel RicciardoSebastian VettelSebastian Vettel
MercedesNico RosbergLewis HamiltonNico RosbergLewis Hamilton
FerrariKimi RaikkonenFernando AlonsoKimi RaikkonenFernando Alonso
LotusPastor MaldonadoPastor MaldonadoRomain GrosjeanRomain Grosjean
McLarenKevin MagnussenJenson ButtonKevin MagnussenJenson Button
Force IndiaSergio PerezSergio PerezNico HulkenbergNico Hulkenberg
SauberAdrian SutilEsteban GutierrezAdrian SutilEsteban Gutierrez
Toro RossoDaniil KvyatJean-Eric VergneDaniil KvyatJean-Eric Vergne
WilliamsValtteri BottasTBCTBCTBC
MarussiaMax ChiltonJules BianchiJules BianchiMax Chilton
CaterhamKamui KobayashiMarcus EricssonKamui KobayashiMarcus Ericsson

2014 F1 season


Browse all 2014 F1 season articles

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

18 comments on “Driver line-up for final pre-season test in Bahrain”

  1. That Ferrari’s looking better every time I see it… This test it so crucial, If Red Bull are going to have any say in the first few races, they need to act now. Ferrari are reliable but don’t seem as quick as Mercedes and McLaren. Williams look really strong.

    1. Come on, that Ferrari is ugly!? Only better than the Caterham and Force India to be honest.

    2. I already see f1-pundits talking about “if only every F1 car had the same engines, only then we could see which CAR is fastest. Now the engine-fuzz ruines everything”. Counting down the time we’ll hear that bs… Who will be fist to say it?

    3. Looking better as in performance compared to last year?
      But looks in term of the car I’m still trying to get use to it though.
      Just hope they will be on par with Merc and Mc for the test this week.

  2. RBR, Lotus and Force India have divided their drivers so that no. 2 driver has the job of ironing out technical problems and issues over the first 2 days, while no. 1 driver can benefit and concentrate on the fine tuning over the last 2 days.
    Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren way of letting the 2 drivers take one day at a time, with the no. 1 driver to do the last day, indicates also that they are in the process of fine tuning.
    I would be surprised if we don’t see the podium in Melbourne filled with only drivers from Mercedes, Ferrari and/or McLaren. But over the season I’m sure RBR will catch up and maybe Lotus will shine every now and then. But of course the fuel limitation is a joker this year. Who will get it right and who will get it terribly wrong? 16 days to Qualifying;-)

  3. It’s going to be good watching both Mercs both Ferraris and both Mclarens fighting into the first at Melborne. Hopefully the Williams will be in with a shout and with Red Bulls problems at least I feel I can safely assume Vettel won’t be gone after the first corner. This season is looking to be a good one and pretty close up till the end, which is a shame as I won’t be watching Abu Dhabi as a protest. Good luck to all and bring on the 2014 season.

    1. I don’t mean to be rude but I really, really can’t make sense of your post @sidewinda. Vettel gone where and against what are you protesting Abu Dhabi for?

      1. @blackmamba – If I were to guess what @f1sidewinda is protesting against I’d say it would be the double points thing.

      2. I’m from Birmingham, I’m not supposed to make sense. Basically, it looks set to be a great season, good luck to all, and I hate the double points rule so I won’t be watching the last race.

    2. [I won’t be watching Abu Dhabi as a protest]
      @F1Sidewinda, c’mon you got follow the final race unless it’s a boring runaway team.

      And yes I agree Vettel won’t disappear after the first turn, for sure.

      1. OmarR-Pepper (@)
        27th February 2014, 2:09

        @johnbt maybe he disappears after lap 1 into his team’s box. (I’m a Vettel fan but reality seems coming like that)

        1. You know, I’m not a fan of Vettel but I do like the guy, he’s definitely a friendly guy as I’ve met him before and a humorous chap. I would have preferred not for Red Bull to be in this situation.

      2. c’mon you got follow the final race unless it’s a boring runaway team.

        I certainly won’t if there is still double points. I would be boycotting this season entirely if I wasn’t already booked to go to Spa!

    3. Well, as john Steinbeck said, “the best laid plans of Mice and men often go astray.” me thinks the championship will be decided long before the last three races. Whoever is strongest up until that time will probably continue to be strong. Especially since the engine development will be stifled towards the end of the season. I think the teams will stop development in the middle of the season to focus on fixing all the problems with the 2014 cars, and implementing all the technology from others, for the 2015 season.

  4. Is this one shown live on Sky or somewhere or just text updates again?

    1. No broadcaster can show it as Formula One Management (FOM) is not making it available. You will have to make do with live text commentary and I recommend this site as you also get interaction with other members. Autosport and BBC do a decent job as well.

  5. Personally I like the driver testing strategy that Ferrari and Mercedes have adopted whereby a) they alternate the driver each day and b) have the ”preferred/better” driver on the 2nd and 4th days.

    Unlike Red Bull who are doing the first two with subordinate and then switching only the one time.

  6. I wonder why RBR don’t just let the champ go on paid vacation, instead of asking him to spend 4 days sat in a car in the garage.
    It’s going to be a tough and testing year for RBR and Vettel, the champ should be allowed to rest and have as much fun as possible.

Comments are closed.