For Carlos Sainz, the number of test days in F1 is insufficient
Best time during testing in Bahrain, the Spaniard nevertheless appeared irritated after these three days. Despite his good performances, the former Ferrari driver criticized the limited duration of winter testing.

Too few F1 tests. That’s what Carlos Sainz said following the three days of testing that just took place in Bahrain. The Spaniard, who set the best time during these tests, arrives in Australia with uncertainties due to tricky weather conditions and several red flags. However, this is not the main complaint from the former Ferrari driver. The man with four F1 victories expressed particular frustration with the lack of testing days authorized by the FIA.
“It’s strange to have had a day and a half and now have to go running,” he told RaceFans. “It doesn’t seem enough, it’s very little. Ridiculously little, the time we spend in our cars before participating in a race.” The former McLaren driver mainly talks about difficulties for drivers who, like him, change teams, as they have to adapt to a single-seater they don’t know in a very short time. “I feel that everyone who changes teams, unfortunately, with only a day and a half of testing, really discovers their car only during the first races.”
Regarding the rookies, he stated: “I obviously wish them good luck and I understand their frustration with the lack of testing, because even though I’m not a rookie, this day and a half of testing is already frustrating for me. So, I can’t even imagine what it’s like for a rookie. I understand how it complicates things and makes the start of the season difficult for some of them.”
Increasingly fewer taxiing operations
A situation that the Spanish driver does not appreciate at all, especially since the FIA has imposed a mileage limit for the Predecessor Car Tests (TPC) this season. Even though these tests allow drivers changing teams or entering F1 to familiarize themselves with their race car by testing old cars, the Spaniard believes that experience remains experience, and it is only acquired on the track with a real car, the one that will be driven during the season. The former Renault driver also commented on the other types of tests possible in F1, notably simulators. According to the new president of the GPDA, these are less essential than real-world tests, and teams should not invest as much in these tools.
« Honestly, I think F1 could make an effort to improve the way we do testing. Teams spend endless amounts on simulators, bringing drivers from Monaco to the UK to use them, and I don’t understand why we only have three days of testing when all that money could be invested—say—in eight days of testing. » The former Ferrari driver also took the opportunity to propose some solutions for the upcoming seasons to allow rookies to be more comfortable before starting their first race.
More test days currently under consideration
« I’m not asking for much. Eight, ten days where each team would choose their testing locations. It’s good to have a collective test, that should remain, but my proposal would be to include a defined number of testing days in the budget cap as well as the use of simulators, and to let the teams decide where they want to invest their money: in the simulator or in ten days of on-track testing.
« The rookies would benefit, and I think the F1 teams would too, because even if the simulators are efficient, they are not as good as some engineers or people tend to believe. I will always choose track testing, and I think it’s also better for the rookies than going into a simulator.
Tests on two circuits from 2026
Wishes that could be granted. The FIA is indeed studying the issue of winter testing. According to initial information, the 2026 season could have nine test days. They would be divided into two phases. First, the cars would take to the track in January for a five-day “shakedown” at the Barcelona circuit. Each team would have three out of these five days to conduct these tests.
Then, all the teams would meet in Bahrain for the traditional winter testing, but this time for six days instead of three. These days would be divided into two sessions: the first from February 12 to 14, then the second from February 18 to 20. Unfortunately, the 2025 tests are already over, and Sainz has already explained that he will not feel fully comfortable in the Williams. Nevertheless, the performances during the tests allow him to anticipate a good season for the Grove team. Answers to come on March 16 during the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia.