Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has officially announced the dates for the two Formula 1 four-day pre-season tests in 2019 which begin on February 18^th.

Pre-season testing retains its traditional two-week stretch at the Spanish Grand Prix circuit as the only official F1 test days before the 2019 season gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix on March 17^th.

The first four-day test begins on February 18^th before the usual four-day break between the second pre-season test at the same venue which starts on February 26^th.

Pre-season testing concludes March 1^st leaving a two-week turnaround ahead of t🔯he season opener at Melbourne’s Albeꦯrt Park.

F1’s pre-season tests have effectively been pushed forward by one week with the 2019 curtain-raiser in Australia having been mo𝓡ved a week earlier.

2018’s first pre-season test was truncated by snow at Circuit de Catalunya which could see F1 at risk to sim☂ilar conditions next year having been moved forward one week along with cold temperatures at that time of year.

F1 had looked to move testing to warmer climates at Bahrain’s Sakhir International Circuit, to provide more repr💧esentative conditions, but the idea was rejected due to high costs transporting team equipment and personnel t🦄o the Middle East.

All F1 teams ar༺e able to transport the bulk of its equipment by road to Circuit de Catalunya while also being able to fly in updates or spare parts quicker from their Eu⛦ropean-based factories.

Home is where the heart is!
Winter Test 2019 will be staged at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya!
18 February to 21 February // 26 February ൩🍸to 1 March

— Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (@Circuitcat_eng)