F1 to return to track not used for six years after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GP cancellations
F1 cars are ending a six year absence from the Nurburgring with a test confirmed following the cancellation of both Grands Prix in April.
There will be no F1 race in April for the first time since 2020 this year, with ongoing conflict in the Middle East meaning the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Grands Prix could not go ahead.
It comes after a Pirelli wet-weather tyre test was already cancelled in Bahrain after BBC footage showed a missile hit the National Communication Centre ,which is only 15 miles from the circuit.
Following the cancellation, Pirelli have already made up for lost time after conducting wet running in Suzuka with Ferrari also set to conduct wet tests at Fiorano this week.
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However, F1 are ready to maximise the April break, with Nurburgring now also confirmed to host a test on the 14th and 15th, with Mercedes and McLaren set to hit the famous circuit.
The teams will be using the 17-corner grand prix layout, after the Nordschleife, where Max Verstappen races in GT3, was dropped from F1 after the 1976 German Grand Prix due to safety concerns.
"Any kind of lap that you drive around there, in any kind of car, is always fun," Verstappen said about the circuit last year.
The Nordschleife is 22.8km long and has over 150 corners, with incidents such as Niki Lauda's famous fireball crash eventually resulting in F1 relocating to the Hockenheim circuit.
The layout used for F1 will have extensive run-off areas and advanced digital monitoring systems, in order to create the most suitable data-gathering conditions possible for the teams.
McLaren and Mercedes are yet to confirm their drivers for the test, but it is expected that both team's will split sessions between drivers over the two days.
F1 won't officially return until May 1 for the second sprint weekend of the season in Miami, as Ferrari and McLaren attempt to catch the dominant Mercedes.
Topics: Formula 1, Motorsport, Mercedes, McLaren
Tom Jenkins