F1 pre-season testing 2023: Which team topped the speed charts?
F1 pre-season testing 2023: Which team topped the speed charts?
F1 is about so much more than pure straight-line pace but which team secured bragging rights in pre-season testing with the highest top speed?
There are a number of factors that limit the performance of an F1 car beyond the driver's individual capability behind the wheel.
In fact, every single component of the car performs a critical role with even the most minor of imperfections having the potential to hinder performance.
However, there is always a large focus on the power unit given this extremely large and complex piece of kit is the beating heart of the machine.
Mercedes had enjoyed the strongest power unit when the V6 turbo hybrid iterations were introduced in 2014 but this advantage was slowly eroded, with both Red Bull Honda and Ferrari appearing to have at least caught up to the German manufacturer.
READ MORE: 'I don't care if I don't win another race': Hamilton in responsibility vow
The 2023 F1 picture
Although the numbers registered in any metric during pre-season testing are required to be taken with a pinch of salt, it was Red Bull that showed the greatest speed in Bahrain, with Max Verstappen hitting 326.9 km/h (203.1mph) on the opening day of running.
Ferrari followed in second, trailing by just 0.3km/h while Haas, also using a power unit from the Italian manufacturer, was fourth.
However, highlighting the skewed picture that testing can present is Mercedes.
The Silver Arrows finished at the foot of the speed charts after registering a best effort of 321.1 km/h (199.5mph) and the highly rated Aston Martin team, also powered by Mercedes, were sixth.
But potentially highlighting some sandbagging and lower engine modes being at play was Williams. Despite the team widely being expected to find itself more often than not at the rear of the pack, Williams set the third fastest top speed.
In part, this could have come through an optimised aerodynamic set-up to assist on the straights, but more likely is that this was aided by a slightly higher engine mode.
FULL F1 pre-season speed traps standings
Position | Team | Speed km/h (mph) | Day set |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Red Bull | 326.9 (203.1) | Day 1 |
2. | Ferrari | 326.6 (202.9) | Day 2 |
3. | Williams | 324.8 (201.8) | Day 2 |
4. | Haas | 324.3 (201.5) | Day 2 |
5. | Alpine | 323.6 (201) | Day 3 |
6. | Aston Martin | 323.3 (200.8) | Day 2 |
7. | Alfa Romeo | 322.8 (200.6) | Day 3 |
8. | AlphaTauri | 322.2 (200.2) | Day 1 |
9. | McLaren | 322 (200.1) | Day 1 |
10. | Mercedes | 321.1 (199.5) | Day 1 |
READ MORE: March's key F1 diary dates
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Horner BLAMED for Newey nightmare as ‘absolute b******s’ Red Bull claims slammed
- 26 minutes ago
Hamilton F1 rival makes astonishing admission with Verstappen claim
- 33 minutes ago
McLaren boss keen for stunning Alonso REUNION
- 1 hour ago
Schumacher BLAMES Horner for Red Bull's Newey nightmare
- 2 hours ago
Hamilton in Ferrari F1 SHOCK after team snub revealed
- 3 hours ago
Newey set for CRUCIAL meeting over Red Bull future
- Today 08:27
Related news
Surprise team tops timesheets in Abu Dhabi post-season testing
Bottas reveals Alfa Romeo loss after testing breakdown
F1 pre-season testing - Winners and losers
F1 Testing Mediawatch: A ‘Scary’ Red Bull and Plan B for Mercedes?
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860