Formula 1’s 10 teams clocked up 3, 896 laps – the equivalent of around 21,085km, which is distance of a little under halfway around the world – during three days of testing at a Bahrain International Circuit that endured a mix of sunshine, heavy cloud cover and rain.
As ever, it’s unwise to read too much into the headline times on the final classification. But looking at the data and talking to the teams, it looks like we could be in for one of the closest – if not the closest – season F1 has ever seen…

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu answers listeners’ questions
Horner to exit Red Bull with immediate effect
This Week in F110 quiz questions on the British Grand Prix
Tech WeeklyWhy Red Bull's new floor needs further tweaking
‘I made a mistake’ – Bortoleto explains exit from British GP
PalmerHow Hulkenberg tamed the rain to finally claim a podium