Pre-season is getting closer, testing at the Barcelona Catalunya Circuit are round the corner and the teams are already confirming its plans for the upcoming two weeks of testing.
The first team to announce it is Force India, who are scheduled to unveil their new VJM-11 car and, very likely, their new name, the 25th of February, the day before testing begins.
As it usually happens with this team, the developement and testing drivers will have the chance to do a testing day. In the past, drivers such as Jules Bianchi, Pascal Wehrlein or Alfonso Celis Jr. were able to drive the new car from the Indian team.
This time, it will be Nikita Mazepin, who is the developement driver of the team and will race for ART GP in GP3 this year; and Nicholas Latifi, Force India’s testing driver and DAMS driver in FIA F2, the young drivers that will have the chance to drive the VJM-11.
The Russian driver is the chosen one to make the car’s debut the 26th of February. On the other hand, Latifi will drive the new car the last day from week one, the 1st of March.
As for the main drivers, Esteban Ocon will drive the car the second day of week one, after Mazepin has driven it for the first day; and the second and fourth day of week 2. As for Pérez, we will test the car on the remaining days, day 3 on week 1, and days 1 and 3 on week 2.
2018 Formula One pre season will start next Monday, the 26th of February. Then, all teams will start a two-week testing programme on which they will have 8 days at the Barcelona Catalunya Circuit to set everything up and be ready for the Australian GP, the season opener scheduled for the 25th of March.
