Formula 1 is a motorsport that always pushes the limits of innovation every year. Each year, we see the teams bring about new additions to their cars until the next engine regulations roll by, which completely change the situation.
To test these new cars and additions, the sport holds a 3-day testing session just weeks before the actual season begins. The drivers can get a feel of the drive of the car. The teams can make necessary changes to the car based on the data received before the season opener.
What is sandbagging in F1 testing?
In a bid to hide their true potential, the teams opt to make their cars slower than they would be in a normal race. This purposeful slowing of the car is called sandbagging.
The teams can easily track a car through the GPS, finding out its pace, even if the car is not theirs. To combat that, teams turn to sandbagging to feed incorrect data to the other teams. Mercedes were successful at fooling the teams in their dominant era. In 2019, Mercedes were consistently slower than Ferrari in testing, however, they ended up winning the WDC and WCC by larger margins.
The aero rakes are out in force today! 🔍#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/C53YnF2ohU
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2025
Many may argue that if every team is ‘sandbagging’ then none of them are. It may have been true if there was only one method for sandbagging, but teams have derived several ways to do so.
Different methods of sandbagging in F1
Effectively feeding inaccurate data to others is beneficial for a team to throw the rivals off their scent. Several methods of sandbagging can help slow down a car, disguising its potential.
The simplest of them all is not driving fast, as drivers can choose to drive slower than normal, while the teams just get the running data. The cars can also sport a harder compound, which has less grip, thus, making the car slower.
The teams can also choose to lower the engine power so that the car doesn’t run faster than it should. Another option would be to put in more fuel in the car, which serves the purpose while letting the car run more laps, gathering more useful data.
How F1 Teams Use Aero Rakes and Flow-Vis Paint in Pre-Season Testing
Sandbagging is a practice mostly seen during pre-season tests, along with aero rakes and flo-vis paint on the car to get an idea of the aerodynamics.
Pre-season testing is always an exciting time for both the teams and the fans. The teams can gather all the necessary data required to build their car further, and fans get ever closer to watching the season unfold.
