Barcelona private test – Full schedule
After the recent Spanish Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen, the Barcelona track hosts the first private tests of the season. All the teams will be present, with the exception of Sauber, which is in financial difficulties, with a number of young drivers at the wheel.
Formula 1 is not quite done with Barcelona this year as most teams, except for Sauber, will be present today and tomorrow for two days of testing which will notably allow the teams to try out some new developments.
At Renault, recent winner of the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull and Max Verstappen, it is on the power unit side that attention will be focused, as the French engine manufacturer will be testing a major evolution of its engine, which is expected to be installed on the Renaults and Red Bulls from the Canadian Grand Prix next June.
These two test days will also provide an opportunity for teams to showcase young drivers and give them some track time. At Force India, Mexican driver Alfonso Celis Jr will be participating, as will Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren.
On the French side, Esteban Ocon will participate in both days: Tuesday with Renault and Wednesday with Mercedes. Pierre Gasly, current leader of the GP2 championship, will also be on track today driving the Toro Rosso. It’s also noteworthy that the Italian Antonio Fuoco will take the wheel of the Ferrari this Wednesday, along with the two British drivers, Jordan King with Manor and Alex Lynn will be in the Williams seat today.
The only two Spanish drivers on the grid, Fernando Alonso (McLaren) and Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) were given the freedom by their team.
| Team | Tuesday, May 17 | Wednesday, May 18 | |
| 1 | Mercedes | Nico Rosberg | Esteban Ocon |
| 2 | Ferrari | Sebastian Vettel | Antonio Fuoco |
| 3 | Red Bull | Daniel Ricciardo | Max Verstappen |
| 4 | Williams | Alex Lynn | Felipe Massa |
| 5 | Toro Rosso | Pierre Gasly | Daniil Kvyat |
| 6 | Force India | Alfonso Celis Jr | Alfonso Celis Jr |
| 7 | Renault | Esteban Ocon | Kevin Magnussen |
| 8 | McLaren | Jenson Button | Stoffel Vandoorne |
| 9 | Haas | Romain Grosjean | Esteban Gutierrez |
| 10 | Manor | Pascal Wehrlein | Jordan King |