25/02/2019
NEWS STORY
This week sees the final four days of pre-season testing, that time when the teams switch focus from reliability to pace and performance.
As previously reported, Ferrari has opted to follow Mercedes strategy of running both drivers each day, with Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc running Tuesday to Friday and swapping at lunchtime.
While the same strategy was used by both Renault and Haas last week, this week both teams are using the more traditional strategy of allowing their drivers the full day in the car.
Though fans got live coverage of the afternoon's running on Sky F1 last week, this week, when the pace hots up and the true pecking order begins to emerge, there is no live coverage. On the other hand, this means fans will miss out on some of the utter banality that passed for commentary.
Other than pace, something that Mercedes prefers to hold off on until the very last minute, the main things to watch this week will be whether Ferrari can maintain the superiority it showed last week, and how much closer to the two leading teams Red Bull can get.
While it is a big week for determining the midfield order, with Toro Rosso and Alfa looking strong, and Haas and Renault showing reliability issues, it is absolutely vital also that Williams gets in four solid days of running.
| Team | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
| Mercedes | Ham/Bott | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Ferrari | Lecl/Vett | Vett/Lecl | Lecl/Vett | Vett/Lecl |
| Red Bull | Gasly | Verstappen | Gasly | Verstappen |
| Renault | Ricciardo | Hulkenberg | Ricciardo | Hulkenberg |
| Haas | Magnussen | Grosjean | Magnussen | Grosjean |
| McLaren | Norris | Sainz | Norris | Sainz |
| Racing Point | Stroll | Perez | Stroll | Perez |
| Alfa Romeo | Giovinazzi | Raikkonen | Giovinazzi | Raikkonen |
| Toro Rosso | Albon | Kvyat | Albon | Kvyat |
| Williams | Russell | Kubica | Russell | Kubica |