Nine teams sticking with original test dates

Up to nine of F1’s twelve teams are reportedly sticking with the originally scheduled dates for the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

It had been reported elsewhere that all the teams had agreed to move the four-day test, rescheduled due to the Bahrain cancellation, from 8-11 to 9-12 March.

But so far, only Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari have announced that they will be running on the new Wednesday-Saturday schedule.

The Telegraph’s Tom Cary wrote on Twitter that "some teams (are) sticking with March 8-11".

Finland’s Turun Sanomat agrees: "The other nine teams will be testing on March 8-11".

The news means that Barcelona is in effect a five-day schedule, with every team limited to just four days.

"Therefore all the teams will be on the track at the same time on only three days," Turun Sanomat explained.

With the exception of Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari, all the teams have been contacted for confirmation.