F1 teams considering Bahrain test

F1 teams are discussing the possibility of testing in Bahrain prior to the desert Kingdom's 2010 season opener.

Track boss Martin Whitmaker told the Gulf Daily News that the talks are taking place despite rules preventing more than the 15 scheduled pre-season test days in Spain next month.

He said Bahrain could enter the frame in the event of poor weather at the European testing, to take place at Valencia, Jerez and Barcelona throughout February.

"If teams who want to come here can get the permission of their rivals, we would be glad to welcome them," said Whitaker.

"Right now, it is still too early to say for sure; a lot of them are not even ready to run their new cars. But we are confident we could have one or two come out to Bahrain and test before the season," he added.

Whitaker, however, said that despite Bahrain hosting mid March's season opener this season, testing in the week preceding the 2010 race is not likely.

Despite its distance from Europe, Bahrain has previously been used as an F1 test location due to its favourable weather, even though early last year, two of eight scheduled test days at Sakhir were affected by sandstorms.