When does F1 pre-season testing start in 2020?

Expectation vs. Reality

While pre-season testing does tend to give a good indicator of a team's pace compared to competitors, you should never take the results and statistics as gospel.

In 2019, Ferrari were quickest in pre-season and favourites for the 2019 title before the first Grand Prix. After all, they looked the quickest team by far at the Circuit de Catalunya. The bookies made the Italian works team favourites for the championship. We all know what happened next; Mercedes started the season with five consecutive one-two finishes, a new record in F1.

Haas also looked rapid in pre-season, and while their start to the season was very good, they finished the season in ninth place in the constructors' championship.

So, the way you should look at pre-season should be that it's an indicator of a team's pace but nothing more. Don't draw any conclusions!

Schedule