Paul Ricard hoping to become host venue for F1 pre-season testing

  • Published on 04 Feb 2020 09:08
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

The Circuit Paul Ricard is hoping that it can be the venue of Formula 1 pre-season testing in the coming years.

The circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2018, ending a ten-year hiatus that saw the French Grand Prix absent from the annual schedule. 

The Circuit de Catalunya will play host to the tests this year, which has become the customary venue for winter testing in recent years.

However the future of the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona remains in doubt, with a one-year extension agreed upon in 2019 for a 2020 event.

"In the deal, F1 felt that Barcelona had given them a lot and it was normal for them to help by extending the race for one year with more winter testing," Paul Ricard circuit director Stephane Clair told f1only.fr.

"We are candidates to host the winter tests. We dream about it and we discuss it. We already had a good chance that it would happen this year."

Barcelona has been the go-to venue in recent years as logistically, it makes sense for teams to transport their cargo to a destination in Europe.

The climate and temperatures are also usually representative. Clair stated that for these reasons, there would be little difference in having testing in France. 

"In terms of climate and distance and data it makes no difference to them," he said. "What they especially don't want is to go to the other side of the world."

Pre-season testing this year has been cut to just six days of running compared to the eight of 2019. The first test takes place from February 19th to the 21st, before it returns again from the 26th to the 28th of February. 

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 01:57

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 01:57

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar