Bahrain to host delayed F1 pre-season testing in mid-March

The sole Formula 1 pre-season test will take place in Bahrain in mid-March, GPFans Global has learned.

In a bid to reduce costs, F1 opted to scale back on pre-season testing from two three-day tests to just a single three-day test for the coming year, which was originally due to be held in Barcelona on March 2-4.

But with the Australian Grand Prix delayed until mid-November, and with Bahrain now hosting the season-opening race on March 26-28, the test has shifted both date and location, with the 10 teams to take to the track in Sakhir between March 12-14.

At the turn of the year, rumours began to emerge about a potential postponement to the Australian GP and the idea of shifting pre-season testing to Bahrain was quickly mooted.

The new date means the test will close with 11 available days before the start of first practice for the opening race of the year, a day longer than required as a minimum by the regulations.

The change allows teams a week longer to work on their 2021 machinery before taking to the track for the first time.

Following the Bahrain GP, teams will travel to Imola, with that race filling a vacancy after it was announced the Chinese GP was being postponed, with the currently vacant TBC slot - likely to be Portimão - following on May 2.

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