The final pre-season test of 2014 ends today in Bahrain, just four days after the previous spell of testing. When running finishes today it will be less than two weeks until lights out in Melbourne, highlighting just how crucial this test will be.
While the Mercedes-powered teams appear to be sitting pretty compared to their rivals, the Renault power unit is still proving temperamental and leaving the likes of Red Bull, Lotus, Toro Rosso and Caterham with concerns ahead of the new season.
After very limited running in either of the first two tests, 2013 champion Sebastian Vettel will now run on the final two days of testing in the hope of getting some decent mileage. Force India is another team to split the test in half, with Sergio Perez running on the first two days before handing over to Nico Hulkenberg. Lotus also follow suit, with Pastor Maldonado in action before having over to Romain Grosjean.
However, McLaren, Mercedes, Caterham and Marussia have opted to mix up their driver schedules. Kevin Magnussen will open for the McLaren and then alternate with Jenson Button, with Nico Rosberg will go out first in the Mercedes and then alternate with Lewis Hamilton.
At Caterham, Kamui Kobayashi will drive firs and alternate with Marcus Ericsson, while Max Chilton will drive on the first and last days for Marussia with Jules Bianchi in the MR03 on the middle two.
