Mercedes had planned to carry out running at Portimão, ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix, prior to the decision to outlaw testing at Formula 1’s new or returning 2020 venues.
Formula 1’s calendar has been drastically altered on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, with half of the events cancelled, and several new or historic tracks joining the championship.
Mugello and Portimão have never held grands prix while the Nurburgring and Imola have not been on the calendar in Formula 1’s hybrid era.
Under Formula 1 regulations teams are permitted to carry out two filming days per season – with running restricted to 100km on promotional tyres – and are also allowed private tests with cars two or more years old.
Several Formula 1 teams took advantage of this opportunity to get up to speed after lockdown, with Ferrari at Mugello and AlphaTauri at Imola, albeit before news of their inclusion on the calendar was official.
It is understood that some teams planned to carry out private tests prior to the grands prix but at a meeting last week it was unanimously agreed to outlaw the practice.
The updated clause to the regulations was agreed by the Strategy Group and Formula 1’s Commission and is set to be officially ratified by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council this week.
“We would have taken the 2018 car to some of the tracks,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“We were planning to go to Portimão, but I think that it’s not the right call.
“I think we’re all looking at saving costs with the prize fund being considerably down, and in that respect, if nobody gains an advantage by not going testing, it’s the right thing to do.”
Mugello will host the Tuscan Grand Prix on September 13, Nurburgring the Eifel Grand Prix on October 11, Portimão the Portuguese Grand Prix on October 25, while Imola’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is scheduled for November 1.
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