Due to the current COVID-19 situation in Spain and Catalonia, the forthcoming Formula 1 Barcelona test has been closed to fans.
Since mid-December, the number of new cases in Spain has risen dramatically, with the seven-day new case average topping 100,000 persons per day in the last month.
According to the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya had hoped to host fans at testing for the first view of the entire new generation of Formula 1 cars, but it will not be possible due to the current situation.
Spain is said to have petitioned the European Union to classify COVID-19 as an endemic disease, similar to how flu is classed, but the case rate in Catalonia has grown dramatically in recent weeks.
Fans are unlikely to be able to watch testing live, with a daily highlights package scheduled to be the limit of TV coverage accessible each day from Barcelona – with the sport deciding to prioritize print and internet media for the initial days of testing, which will take place from February 23 to February 25.
It is yet unknown whether fans will be permitted to attend the second test in Bahrain the weekend before the 2022 Formula 1 season begins, which will take place in Sakhir on March 11-13.
For the 2022 season, the number of testing days has been increased from three to six, with Formula One opting to give teams more time to adjust to their drastically different vehicles and tyres while also gathering maximum data.
