Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren complete final pre-season test in Barcelona

The final day of pre-season testing concluded in Barcelona, offering the last glimpse of the 2024 cars in action before the Bahrain Grand Prix. Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren were among the teams putting their updated machinery through its paces, focusing on long-run performance and reliability checks.

Why it matters:

This session represents the final opportunity for teams to gather critical data and make last-minute adjustments before the competitive season begins. With the first race just days away, any issues discovered now must be addressed with limited time, making these laps crucial for establishing a baseline performance level for the opening rounds.

The details:

• Teams utilized the final morning of running to complete specific test programs, often focusing on race simulations and tire degradation studies.
• Ferrari: The SF-24 completed a consistent run, with the team likely evaluating new parts and setups following its launch spec reveal.
• Red Bull: The reigning champions continued their methodical approach, gathering data on the RB20's behavior across different fuel loads and tire compounds.
• McLaren: After a strong showing in 2023, the team worked on optimizing its MCL38 package, with a particular eye on consistency over a race stint.
• The shakedown in Barcelona provides a more representative track compared to some filming days, offering valuable insights into car balance and drivability.

What's next:

All attention now turns to the season opener in Bahrain. The data collected during these final test days will be analyzed exhaustively to finalize race weekend strategies and setups. The true competitive order, hinted at during testing, will be revealed under the lights at Sakhir during the first qualifying session of the year.