McLaren Formula 1 team will be unable to test a 2018-spec car ahead of the 2020 season to help Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. prepare.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari are set to hold tests prior to the season getting underway in Austria next month, but McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has confirmed that this will not be possible for the Woking outfit.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Seidl said that due to their impending power unit supply change from Renault to Mercedes, it is not possible for the team to run their 2018 model.
“On the drivers’ side, unfortunately we don’t have this possibility of having a car that is two years old and we could operate, because of all the powertrain switches we had here in recent years,” Seidl said.
“But as you have seen already, Lando was doing some karting and F3 testing.
“We’re looking into the second thing also now with Carlos to have the drivers ready, and also we will do some simulator work with them.”
Norris made a return to the track last week with junior team Carlin in a Euroformula Open car, but it appears neither of the drivers will get the opportunity to test an Formula 1 car ahead of the series’ return.
However, Seidl said that the team was working hard on procedures to ensure they were fully prepared for the resumption of action.
“We are trying to go through the procedures and processes in the garage for these new circumstances with all the social distancing,” he added.
“I’m happy with the steps we are taking here as a team. I think with what we know now, the process that has been outlined from the FIA and Formula 1 in terms of how we actually execute the race weekend in Austria.
“We have clarity there as well, and it’s simply about focusing on preparation for the next weeks, and hopefully have a good start in Austria.”