2014: 21 races, Bahrain as the opener and more testing

This weekend in Montreal, during the Canadian Grand Prix, the teams met to discuss next season. The latter could start in January, on the 21st, with the first pre-season testing session taking place in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.

The next two test sessions have not been fully planned yet, but they might take place in the Middle East, particularly in Bahrain, which could host the last session before its Grand Prix, potentially opening the 2014 season, which features 21 events, starting on March 5, 2014. If this season has 19 Grand Prix, in 2014, there will be two more with the addition of Russia and New Jersey.

It should also be noted that on the testing side, teams have agreed on the return of private in-season tests, which would result in four two-day sessions following a European Grand Prix each time, starting with Barcelona and Silverstone, with the other two dates still to be decided. Teams would only be allowed to use one car during these tests.

With these eight additional test days, the tests for young drivers are thus eliminated, which suggests that during these tests following the Grand Prix, certain conditions might be set up to encourage the presence of young drivers at the wheel of F1 cars.

It should be noted that this return to testing did not receive the favorable vote of all the teams; in fact, only eight voted in favor and three against. Among those three are likely Marussia and Caterham. The addition of extra test days is also expected to reduce the number of aerodynamic testing days and filming days. Teams will only be able to conduct two straight-line aerodynamic test days—down from eight currently—and two filming days as well.

These different pieces of information have been partly confirmed by Martin Whitmarsh, the director of the McLaren team, in Montreal: « I think you know that the manufacturers and teams want to start testing a little earlier. The idea of having a testing session in mid-January, probably in Jerez, is straightforward from a logistical point of view. Then having some time to react to problems and then conducting tests in warmer conditions in the Middle East seems to be an attractive prospect for the teams. And if you’re there, starting the season seems to be a sensible approach. So I think the majority of people have agreed on this, and I think it will be confirmed. »

However, before all these points become truly effective for the 2014 season, they must be included in the FIA regulations – which should occur during the next World Motor Sport Council meeting to be held on June 28.

For more information, find here the 2014 Formula 1 Grand Prix calendar as well as the 2014 private test calendar.