Bahrain will not be hosting Formula 1 pre-season testing next year, it has emerged.
Popular motorsport website autosport.com reported on Sunday that plans on holding the tests at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) have been scrapped.
“As far as I know, that’s not going to happen now,” Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe told autosport.com on the sidelines of last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
“I think Barcelona’s (been) suggested, Jerez is an option.
“There may be other places to consider but they would be the two most likely.”
BIC commented: “Having hosted winter testing in previous years, we have always welcomed the idea of bringing pre-season testing back to Bahrain. The decision as to the venue is a matter for the commercial rights holder and the teams to agree.”
According to autosport.com, the dates originally earmarked for the Bahrain tests were February 18 to 21 and, after a four-day break, February 26 to March 1, with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix set to take place a fortnight later.