Crucial week for team's as they head to Bahrain for the second winter test

(Bernard Asset Renault Sport F1)

 

This week's second Formula One winter test which gets underway at the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday will prove to be crucial for a number of team's not least Red Bull Racing and the Lotus F1 Team.

 

For Red Bull Racing, who only managed to complete 21 lap's during the opening four day test in Jerez last month it will be extremely important for them to get as many trouble free lap's under their belts as possible as their chief designer Adrian Newey has admitted that the packaging of their new car has proven to be problematic. The Milton Keynes based outfit suffered overheating issues with the RB10.

 

The team and Renault are confident however that they have solved the problems that they encountered over the course of the Jerez test.

 

The Lotus F1 Team will also be looking to get as much mileage done as possible as the team opted to skip the opening test in Jerez to continue developing their car. Romain Grosjean has confirmed that he will conduct the opening day of testing for the Enstone outfit. The team have already conducted more mileage than Red Bull Racing as Pastor Maldonado complete a successful 100KM shakedown filming day in Jerez last week.

 

Heading into the second week of winter testing the Mercedes powered team's of Mercedes AMG F1, McLaren, Williams and Force India are looking extremely strong as do Ferrari.

 

Red Bull Racing has confirmed that reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel will test the RB10 on Wednesday and Thursday before handing over to Daniel Ricciardo for the final two day's.

 

(JEAN-MICHEL LE MEUR / DPPI Renault Sport F1)

 

Ferrari have confirmed that Fernando Alonso will drive on Wednesday and Thursday while Kimi Raikkonen will drive on Friday and Saturday. Mercedes have also to confirm who will drive on what day's this week. They are ahead of their rivals at tis stage in winter testing as Nico Rosberg completed a full race simulation on the final day of the Jerez test.

 

 



(Mercedes AMG F1 - Mercedes looking strong ahead of Bahrain test)

Over at Lotus, Romain Grosjean will drive on Wednesday and Thursday while Pastor Maldonado will drive on Thursday and Friday. McLaren have confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will drive on Wednesday and Thursday while Jenson Button will drive the car the MP29 on Friday and Saturday.

 

Toro Rosso have confirmed that Daniil Kvyat will drive on Wednesday and Thursday while Jean Eric Vergne will drive on the final two day's.

 

Marussia have confirmed that Jules Bianchi will drive on the opening day while Max Chilton will take over on Thursday and Friday before Bianchi takes over once again for the final day.

 

Both the Williams F1 Team and the Sauber F1 Team have to confirm the schedule for the test but I will be released later in the week.

 

Nico Hulkenberg will drive for the Sahara Force India F1 Team for the first two day's of the test before handing over to Sergio Perez for the final two day's.

 

Caterham have also confirmed their schedule, test driver Robin Frijns will drive the car on Wednesday, Kamui Kobayashi will drive the car on Thursday, Marcus Ericsson will drive on Friday with Kamui Kobayshi will conclude the test for Caterham on Saturday.