Formula 1 teams are gearing up to vote against selecting Barcelona as their pre-season testing ground for early next year.
Historically, Bahrain has been the preferred recent location for winter testing due to its favorable dry and warm conditions, along with hosting the season's first race. However, with the 2025 season set to kick off in Melbourne, there has been consideration to switch the testing to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, which was thought to potentially offer more logistical and economic advantages.
"Only three teams wanted to go to Barcelona," reported Tobias Gruner from Auto Motor und Sport. Those teams were Red Bull, its sister team RB, and Sauber.
These teams advocated for Barcelona, citing closer proximity to European F1 factories for easier parts shipment, significant cost savings, and better sustainability aligning with the 2025 race calendar.
"The track is also more representative than Bahrain," Gruner added, noting that switching to Barcelona could save approximately 800,000 euros per team.
The final decision will be made during the next F1 Commission meeting.
Gruner also mentioned that a second winter test will be introduced in the 2026 pre-season to accommodate preparations for the sweeping new car and engine regulations.
Despite the probable snub for pre-season testing, Circuit de Catalunya's president, Roger Torrent, remains hopeful about the future of the Grand Prix at the track, which is up for renewal after 2026.
"Madrid coming in does not put extra pressure on us," he told Diario Sport, expressing optimism about continuing the race.
"Obviously, until there is something signed we are not going to announce it, but we are optimistic."
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