Pre-season testing for Formula 1 could be set to move away from Barcelona next season with a possible move to the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France.
For many years teams have enjoyed testing in the east of Spain, this due to the nature of the circuit’s layout that tests the cars through its range of corners, but also has a healthy climate that allows for warm and dry testing.
As quoted by Crash.net Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola said: “We use Paul Ricard a lot for testing, like GT and GP2, as well as wet testing.”
It is understood that after failed attempts at soaking the track to perform a wet weather test during pre-season running failed expectations, Pirelli is keen to run at the La Castellet circuit due to it’s in house sprinkler system that can keep the track wet and use its well-known knowledge of the circuit.
The teams could also take preference to this decision with the French Grand Prix returning to the F1 calendar next season, teams and drivers could learn the circuit ahead of the race later in the year.
Isola added: “We know this circuit well and we are happy to go there but if you are talking about pre-season tests, the weather could be worse.”
