Barcelona not confirming pre-season dates

Barcelona is not yet confirming officially that pre-season testing will take place at the Circuit de Catalunya early next year.

Reports indicate that the teams have now settled on two four-day group tests, both in Barcelona, to prepare for the new 2017 regulations.

But Pirelli, and some teams including Mercedes, are reportedly pushing for at least one test to take place in hotter weather, for instance in Bahrain.

When asked about the reports of two Barcelona tests, circuit director Joan Fontsere said: "We have no official confirmation of this decision.

"We have done everything possible that it stays here, but the decision is theirs," he told the Diario Sport newspaper.