F1 in talks over two-venue test plan for 2022

F1 is currently in discussions over a two-venue pre-season test plan ahead of the 2022 season.

The understanding is Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya will be used for a three-day session in late February followed by a switch to the Bahrain International Circuit in mid-March for a run of a minimum of four days.

F1 unveils its new machinery next season and the teams and drivers will require as much track time as possible to become familiar with the car's characteristics.

It is why two different circuits, with different attributes and with two very different climates are currently under consideration.

For this season there was just a single three-day test in Bahrain due to the crossover of the cars from last year.

That proved problematic for a number of drivers who had switched teams and only had a day and a half of running to become accustomed to the differences compared to their previous cars with their former teams.

At this stage, it is almost certain Bahrain would again then stage the season-opening race later in March - as was the case this year - potentially forming the first part of a Middle East double-header with Saudi Arabia.

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula has indicated to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali that the Australian Grand Prix is aiming for a return to the calendar in April due to the heightened sensitivity in the country to the coronavirus.

Australia has twice had to cancel its race due Covid-19, even switching to a November date for this year after it was postponed from its season-opening slot but to no avail.

With Australia hoping for an April date it has made the decision easy for F1 to switch to Bahrain to open the 2022 campaign.

At this stage, the decisions have yet to be confirmed.

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