No pre-race tests for Alfa Romeo, Williams or Haas

Three of Formula 1’s seven teams will not conduct any live track running before the first practice session for the new season one week from today.

Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams last ran their cars at pre-season testing on February 28th. Their rivals have used promotional events with their current cars or test sessions with two-year-old chassis to gain experience of how their garage operations will change while observing measures to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Williams has already used both its permitted promotional events this year, meaning it will not be able to hold a filming day featuring the FW43 in its revised livery. Alfa Romeo also confirmed they will not run before Friday practice begins at the Red Bull Ring.

Haas will also not conduct any pre-race running. Team principal Guenther Steiner said last week those who do will only gain a marginal benefit over them.

“I think it is an advantage, I would not deny that,” he said. “But it isn’t big.

“Our guys are working in the factory in Banbury to put the cars together so they have to do social distancing there as well while they work. So I’m not too worried about that one. We practised the new protocol in the garage instead of out in the track.”

A fourth team, McLaren, has also been unable to test due to restrictions in its agreement with engine supplier Renault, who it will part from at the end of this season. However it arranged an event for its drivers to run in Carlin Formula 3 machines at Silverstone.

Red Bull, AlphaTauri and Racing Point have run their 2020 cars, while Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault all used two-year-old chassis.

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