Bottas: “Winter tests? Better to go to Bahrain”

According to Valterri Bottas, the teams should return to carry out pre-season testing sessions in Bahrain. The climatic conditions and the configuration of Sakhir itself, according to the Williams Finn, would help the teams to collect much more data than what they can process in Barcelona. The climatic conditions on Spanish soil, in fact, do not help the teams to carry out all the programs planned for the various four days of work as best as possible, slowing down the process of evolution of the cars.

Pirelli has always been at the forefront when it comes to moving winter tests to much "warmer" places such as the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain, but has not found the right consensus. A more unique than rare case was last season, where it was necessary to work on new compounds for the hybrid V6 engines. Speaking of the tests currently underway, the Strategy Group has decided to bring the Circus back to Montmelò for a simple question of costs, thus helping small businesses in difficulty.

Here are the words of Valterri Bottas at Turun Sanomat: “I would have preferred Sakhir as a test venue. In Bahrain we find temperatures very similar to those we will face during the entire season and a condition of this kind would allow us to arrive much more ready for the start of the championship. Working in the cold of Barcelona isn't exactly the best, both for the team and for us drivers."

Roberto Valenti
Twitter: @RobertoVal94