2022 Winter Testing Part 1: Barcelona 23 - 25th February

[tonmeister]

If it´s confirmed that it will be closed to the public because Bahrain paid for the exclusive, I feel utterly disgusted. F1 what's wrong with you? I live 2 Kms from the circuit. Winter testing has been a steady meeting over the last 20 years for fans coming from all over Europe. It's a bit of an insult that we are denied the opportunity of watching the test because somebody paid for the exclusive in a circuit where only desert sand will be able to assist. What a let down, really.

[mclaren111]

It was always @Marti_EF3 who lives in Barcelona and posted every day pictures from the Circuit, but .....
Last active: 10 Oct 2021, 23:49, so I don't think he will read this.

Well, I read it!

If COVID-19 measures don't --- me another time since 2020, I will be there for the full 3 days of testing. As always, I will try to post pics, videos and so on.

I'm a bit out of everything, but I'm still part of the F1 freaks!

Have a nice day everyone

P.S: I've a drone, so... I can do it anyway

[Juzh]

Does anybody know why the Barcelona test is apparently behind closed doors?

This gossip can be read on several F1 sites. I found this one on italy24news.com:

To date we have had direct confirmation from the racetrack that the public will not be admitted and even journalists, photographers and TVs should not have access to the circuit.

All this because the Bahrain would have “bought” the exclusive rights. As confirmed in Monday’s press conference, the public, journalists, photographers and even TVs will be attending Sakhir to document, for the first time ever, the track tests of the new F1 2022 single-seaters

https://www.italy24news.com/sports/news/amp/199812

Press conference:

Thanks for this link. Relevant part about testing in bahrain starts at 16:50, but most important piece of info is at 17:24. It is said bahrain will be the first place IN THE REGION where fans will be able to see new cars, but it is not specifically said first place as a whole.

[lio007]

Maybe this one is helpful, it's by AMuS from November:
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... ests-2022/

The first test will be for print media without long live tv coverage, just short ones in the evening, like Ted's notebook.
In Bahrain with full TV coverage!

[wogx]

[tonmeister]

Now it's confirmed. Money talks. This is shameful for the europeans fans.

[Just_a_fan]

Quite simple - if they won't let you engage, don't give them your money. They'll figure it out eventually.

[BlueCheetah66]

It's insane that in the first year of new regulations F1 will want us to get excited for, we won't be able to see the first days of them on track. Is there really that much money to be made from testing that they prioritise money over what the fans want.

[nzjrs]

Argh garbage. Was already planning to visit.

[Oakstreet]

This guy has lost his mind - at least all his credibility as an independent journalist - if any was left:



So they will do 100km on demo tires?

[nzjrs]

This guy has lost his mind - at least all his credibility as an independent journalist - if any was left:

So they will do 100km on demo tires?

Yeah. His decline since he started working for FOM has been noticeable.

[Zynerji]

Maybe some fans from Spain with a drone and a good camera can take a couple of shots from above?

I am pretty sure they will do it, or at least, use a camara with an enormous zoom.

Then they should upload it but not on youtube, there videos will be deleted by rights owners, need another platform for it

Rumble.Com

[SmallSoldier]

It's insane that in the first year of new regulations F1 will want us to get excited for, we won't be able to see the first days of them on track. Is there really that much money to be made from testing that they prioritise money over what the fans want.

In the big scheme of things, the amount of people that actually go to testing is extremely low… The amount of people that actually watch testing (not read the recaps, lap times and pictures online) is very very low also… As a matter of fact, watching testing live wasn’t possible until F1TV, so it’s not like if it’s a long standing tradition.

So, yes there is probably a lot more money to be made from Bahrein paying a premium to have the rights to televised testing… For 99.99% of fans that even if it was open to the public, wouldn’t be able to be in Spain for the first 3 days of testing, we will still get to see the cars during their launch events, there will be pictures posted online of the cars on track and there will be timing at the end of the day (not that times during testing, specially the first 3 days, matters at all).

I don’t understand the upheaval from some fans regarding this… What I do agree with, is the BS form F1 to call it “3 days of shakedown”, like if the average fan doesn’t realize what is really going on… Call it like it is, closed doors testing.

[Juzh]

This guy has lost his mind - at least all his credibility as an independent journalist - if any was left:



So they will do 100km on demo tires?

He's not independent at all, as he works for FOM, so he has to walk the company line, and this tweet just confirms it beyond doubt.

[Oakstreet]

This guy has lost his mind - at least all his credibility as an independent journalist - if any was left:



So they will do 100km on demo tires?

He's not independent at all, as he works for FOM, so he has to walk the company line, and this tweet just confirms it beyond doubt.

Yep, you are right. But there is a difference between adhering to your empoyer and replies such as this one below which is reaching levels of trump-like behaviour "I have my own truth!"

Oh well, I am just angry because I already planned my Barca testing trip.