F1 pre-season tests in Bahrain too costly, says Steiner

Haas team principal Günther Steiner believes it would be unwise to shift Formula 1 pre-season testing to Bahrain due to the costs and logistical challenges involved despite snow scuppering much of Wednesday's running in Barcelona.

Heavy snow overnight and through the morning led to the start of Wednesday's test in Barcelona to be delayed, with the green flag only appearing at midday.

However, with cold conditions remaining, teams are unlikely to hit the track for any running through the afternoon, costing them yet more time after their programmes were also hindered by the weather on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

The loss of running resulted in questions about a possible return to Bahrain for pre-season testing, which last occurred in 2014 before returning to Spanish venues from 2015 onwards.

Despite the warmer, more stable conditions, Haas chief Steiner explained how the costs and logistical efforts involved would make a return to Bahrain troublesome.

"The thing is if next week you have a good week, normal temperature, 16-17ºC, sunshine, we would have forgotten until we decide again where we go next year," Steiner said.

"But the cost is one of the elements going to Bahrain. It’s not easy, but also the logistics if you need something. For example the first year when we came in here two years ago it was talked about going to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi and that would be a no-no because if you are new and you need to fly something somewhere.

"You guys have no idea how much stuff is coming here every day. Every day there is stuff coming for the car, it’s brutal.

"From England or from Italy you just put it in a van, they drive and eight hours later they are here. From England it’s 12 or 14, whatever it is, but you can put it on a plane as hand luggage. We have got people going up and down every day.

"If it is Bahrain, you need to get prepared. It’s the same for everybody and we’d need to get better prepared, but that’s one of the issues. Then the next thing is some teams would put on a jet every night to go back and forward - and some cannot."