Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda is lobbying to have at least one Formula 1 winter test in Bahrain so that the teams can be assured of some dry running ahead of a season packed with rule changes, new tyres and significantly different cars, but Red Bull are among those against such a plan.
Barcelona is scheduled to host eight days of preseason testing in Late February and March, although this is still subject to confirmation.
GMM reports that in Malaysia, Lauda circulated a letter with the aim of getting an unanimous vote to at least allow voluntary Bahrain testing. Mercedes, Manor, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Force India and Haas all signed it, but Williams, Sauber and the two Red Bull teams are opposed.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner said that "60 per cent of the teams need to save money, but testing in Bahrain will cost significantly more. Maybe Mercedes would like to pay for it."
"We feel more comfortable being one and a half hours away than six. I think Pirelli will get enough hot testing in Abu Dhabi, and temperatures will already be 20 degrees in Barcelona in March," added Horner.
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