Verstappen and teammate Sergio Pérez drove their new car for a while last week during a so-called shakedown at Silverstone. On such a filming day, however, no more than 100 kilometers may be covered and demo tapes are used.
During the test days, it is important to collect as much data as possible and to compare the activities on the asphalt with the previous findings in the wind tunnel, in order to optimize the car towards the start of the season.
shakedown
For the time being, it is Red Bull’s intention that Verstappen will be in action all Wednesday, Pérez will get in on Thursday and the two will divide the time on Friday. Drivers may compete daily between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM and between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
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The test days in Barcelona are not open to the public. For the teams, the first days with the completely changed cars count as a kind of extended shakedown† Media are welcome. However, the ‘scanning days’ at the Circuit de Catalunya are not broadcast live, although images are distributed at the end of the day.
Three more test days will follow in Bahrain from 10 to 12. Spectators are welcome there and those tests are also shown live. The first Grand Prix of the new season is scheduled for March 20 in Bahrain.