2021 F1 winter testing could take place in Bahrain

Pre-season testing ahead of the new 2021 F1 season could take place in Bahrain as it is increasingly likely that the first race of the season in Australia will be postponed to a still unknown date.

Due to complications over the COVID-19 protocol in Australia, negotiations are currently underway to postpone the first race of the season in Melborne and if that does happen, pre-season testing could be moved to Bahrain.

Formula 1 has already considered moving pre-season testing to Bahrain this season, but they still decided to stay in Barcelona where a three-day test was to be held.

But as the postponement of the Australian GP is very likely, the teams agree that for logistical reasons it would be most logical to move testing to Bahrain, which would become the new first race of the season.

Autosport reports that the teams agree with that decision, but that they still cannot agree on the exact date of the pre-season tests because some want an earlier date and some as late as possible.

The Sporting Regulations for 2021 say that pre-season testing must be held after February 1 and no later than 10 days before the start of the first practice session of the first race of the season.

In the event of an Australian delay, Bahrain would be the first race of the season (26-28 March), which means that the test could take place from 14-16 March at the latest. The original term of pre-season testing in Barcelona was from 2-4 March

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