F1 testing 2018: What TV channel is it on, can I live stream it, which drivers are participating, and where is it held?

BARELY 92 days after the chequered flag fell on the season-finale in Abu Dhabi, Formula One is back with pre-season testing ahead – and is looking a little different to previous years.

While the driver market hasn’t been shaken up too much from last year, the look of the cars has certainly got everyone talking as F1 prepares to unleash the first closed-cockpit F1 cars of all-time.

Here is your own guide to pre-season testing and the 2018 season.

PA:Press Association

Where is pre-season testing held?

SINCE 2016, F1 has shortened pre-season to two four-day tests on consecutive weeks, down from three tests at two separate circuits.

The test gives the team’s a chance to run their new machinery for the first time, working on every area of the car to understand its strengths and weaknesses and, thereafter, make adjustments before the first race in Australia in March.

Generally, pre-season is held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991.

The track has been used as the main setting for testing for many years, due to the fact its located in Europe, where all the teams are based, and is easier for the team’s to transfer all of their equipment from their factory down to Barcelona.

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Who’s driving where in 2018?

THIS year’s grid is not too different from 2017, with the top three teams having opted to retain their race-winning line-ups.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton will lead Mercedes’ charge this season, with proven race winner Valtteri Bottas alongside him once again.

Hamilton’s rival Sebastian Vettel will look to bring home Ferrari’s first drivers’ championship for 11 years, 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen completes the Maranello-based outfit’s line-up.

Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen partner one another at Red Bull for the third successive season, while despite several on-track collisions, Force India opt to retain Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.

Williams field the least experienced driver pairing on the grid, with youngest-ever podium finisher Lance Stroll and rookie Sergey Sirotkin having a combined age of just 41.

Renault aim to move forwards this year, and to do that they stay put with German Nico Hulkenberg and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who joined the team for the final four races of last season.

Toro Rosso have switched to Honda power in 2018, their drivers consist of 2016 GP2 champion Pierre Gasly and Le Mans 24 hour winner Bredon Hartley.

Haas go into their third year in the sport with Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen at the wheel, while McLaren begin a new era with new engine partners Renault but keep hold of double world champion Fernando Alonso and Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne.

Finally, backmarkers Sauber welcome the added backing of Alfa Romeo to the team and agree to nurture F2 champion Charles Leclerc alongside Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson.

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What are the rule changes for this season?

FIRSTLY, drivers will be restricted to just three engines for the whole season, down from four from last year.

Shark fins and T-wings have now been banned, having been implemented in 2017.

Finally, the Halo closed-cockpit protection device has been made mandatory as of this season, to give drivers added protection from flying debris.

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When does the new season start, how many races are there?

THE 2018 F1 season will kick-off on March 25 in Melbourne, Australia, this year see’s the joint-longest season in history, with 21 races staged across eight months.

The calendar includes the return of the French Grand Prix for the first time since 2008 and the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, there will also be the first ever triple-header during the year.

Will I be able to live steam testing?

UNFORTUNATELY, testing will not be televised.

However, if you want to keep up-to-date with the latest action from pre-season testing more information can be found here.