Charlotte-based motorsports photographer Jamey Price covered the four day Formula One test at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

Winter testing is a vital part of Formula One. In recent years, the 12 team’s ability to test the cars has been restricted to cut costs and even the playing field between competitors. But the sport’s governing body does allocate a period in February and early March where the teams may run their cars to put them through their paces. And do they ever. Multiple race simulations. Engine mapping scenarios. Testing tyres and how much the rubber degrades over the course of a short, or long run among many other trials and of course trying on new parts to the aerodynamic package. It is all incredibly technical, and incredibly secretive. The teams close their doors and no journalist is allowed within sight of the cars. It’s like a cold war spy game in the paddock of an F1 test.

Read more and see many more photos of the F1 testing on Jamey’s blog.