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Pre-season testing is the first time Formula 1 teams can all run their cars together and get the first clues of who is - and isn't - going to be competitive in the upcoming season.
This year it will take place over just three days, all of which will take place in Bahrain, the same venue for the season opener just over a week later.
For the full race calendar, click here, but below you will find a summary of pre-season testing.
When is pre-season testing?
The three-day Bahrain pre-season test will take place from February 21 to 23.
This is the only official collective running teams will undertake. Teams will complete shakedowns (otherwise known as filming days, where teams can conduct up to 200km of running with their cars).
What time is pre-season testing?
Track action will kick off at 10am local time in Bahrain (7am GMT/UK) and finish at 7pm local (4pm GMT/UK) on all three days.
Day-by-day (local times)
Day 1 (Wednesday February 21): 10am - 7pm
Day 2 (Thursday February 22): 10am - 7pm
Day 3 (Friday February 23): 10am-7pm
Can I watch pre-season testing on TV?
F1TV will be broadcasting pre-season testing in all territories where it usually broadcasts the action from F1 weekends live.
Sky Sports F1 will be streaming the action for UK subscribers.
It's usually a joint-broadcast between F1TV and Sky meaning you can expect pundits from both to share and rotate presenting and commentating duties.
How will The Race be covering pre-season testing?
The Race Live Hub will be running on every day of testing, featuring comprehensive coverage of all the on-track action plus all the latest design trends, paddock insight and much more to keep you in the know.
We'll also have regular podcasts involving our team on the ground in Bahrain, all the key stories and session reports covered on The Race, and don't forget to check out our YouTube channel for in-depth analysis of the major talking points.
Is it an accurate indicator?
Pre-season testing is never a completely accurate indicator of the true competitive order but it can flag who has gone forward and who has gone backwards versus the prior year.
For example in 2023 Aston Martin's big leap forward was teased by a strong pre-season pace.
