After the longest off-season for many years, the Formula 1 field will finally be back in action this week. The only pre-season test of 2023 will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Teams will have just three days in which to put their new cars through their paces and prepare for the season-opening round of the championship, which begins the following weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday 5th March.Unlike 2022, the opening test this season will have live TV coverage – but not on all platforms where the races are broadcast. Sky have confirmed that they will be showing all six sessions live on their Sky Sports F1 channel in the United Kingdom.
However US broadcaster ESPN will not be showing live coverage of the test during this week. In Australia, Fox Sports will not be broadcasting coverage of testing either.
Fans in regions where F1TV Pro is available will also be about to watch live coverage of testing there. The track action comprises two sessions each day, beginning at 10am local time, and including a break for lunch.
2023 Bahrain pre-season test: Live F1 TV times
| Day | Session | Channel | Coverage starts | Session starts | Session ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Day one – session one | Sky Sports F1 | 06:50 | 07:00 | 11:00 |
| Thursday | Day one – session two | Sky Sports F1 | 11:50 | 12:00 | 16:30 |
| Friday | Day two – session three | Sky Sports F1 | 06:50 | 07:00 | 11:00 |
| Friday | Day two – session four | Sky Sports F1 | 11:50 | 12:00 | 16:30 |
| Saturday | Day three – session five | Sky Sports F1 | 06:50 | 07:00 | 11:00 |
| Saturday | Day three – session six | Sky Sports F1 | 11:50 | 12:00 | 16:30 |
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Jere (@jerejj)
20th February 2023, 11:50
The only difference from the last two years is that the ending for the post-break session is half an hour later, which means 30 min more track time past the sunset times, so I don’t mind.
The entire Bahrain test was broadcasted last year too, but of course, all pre-season testing occurs in Bahrain akin to 2021 rather than in two locations like last year, which makes the relevant difference.
Good thing the broadcaster in my residence is among the ones broadcasting the world feed coverage again.
Dan G (@dang)
21st February 2023, 11:57
Yes I was beginning to wonder if I’d hallucinated last year’s Bahrain test…