For the first time since 2008, Formula 1 teams’ and drivers’ are preparing to take part in an in-season test at the Italian circuit of Mugello. After in-season testing was banned for the 2009 season, only pre-season and young drivers’ tests allowed the teams’ to run their cars outside of official F1 weekends.
The 2012 Formula 1 season has got off to a highly competitive and unpredictable start, with four different drivers’ in four different cars’ having won the opening races in Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain. Although the season has been highly unpredictable, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel currently sits atop the Drivers’ Championship, with Red Bull currently leading the Constructors’ Championship.
For the next three days, the teams and drivers will partake in a three-day test at the 5.245km (3.259m) Mugello circuit in Italy, as they prepare for the European season which could determine the potential Championship contenders for 2012.
The opening day of the test tomorrow will see many teams run their reserve drivers’, with McLaren opting for Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey in favor of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Red Bull have yet to disclose their drivers’ line-up, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas, Jules Bianchi and Jerome D’Ambrosio driving for their respective teams on day one.
The track action will get underway at 9am local time, and run through until 6pm local time with an hours lunch break at 1pm. The weather for day one looks set to start with sunny intervals before the threat of rain creeps in towards the afternoon, with days two and three set for glorious sunshine in which teams will be eager to test various upgrades in preparation for the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix in May.
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| Team | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bull | Mark Webber | Mark Webber / Sebastian Vettel | Sebastian Vettel |
| McLaren | Oliver Turvey / Gary Paffett | Gary Paffett | Oliver Turvey |
| Ferrari | Fernando Alonso | Felipe Massa | Fernando Alonso |
| Mercedes | Nico Rosberg / Michael Schumacher | Michael Schumacher | Nico Rosberg |
| Lotus | Jérôme d’Ambrosio | Kimi Raikkonen | Romain Grosjean |
| Sauber | Kamui Kobayashi | Kamui Kobayashi | Sergio Perez |
| Force India | Jules Bianchi | Paul di Resta | Nico Hulkenberg |
| Toro Rosso | Jean-Eric Vergne | Jean-Eric Vergne / Daniel Ricciardo | Daniel Ricciardo |
| Williams | Valtteri Bottas | Bruno Senna | Pastor Maldonado |
| Caterham | Rodolfo Gonzalez | Vitaly Petrov | Heikki Kovalainen |
| Marussia | Charles Pic | Charles Pic / Timo Glock | Timo Glock |
| HRT | --- | --- | --- |