Sebastian Vettel admits he would like to see Formula 1 take pre-season testing elsewhere from Barcelona.
The Spanish Grand Prix venue has been the sole location for winter testing since 2016, but in the years prior, teams had convened at Jerez and Bahrain to add some variety.
Logistics and costs are the main reasons why Catalonia has become the go-to place but, as Vettel explains, it does make testing rather dull.
“I’d probably enjoy testing on a different track,” he told RaceFans. “Nothing against Barcelona, but it’s just we’ve been here for so many times.
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“I don’t mind, it’s quite a challenge for the drivers to explore the car together with the engineers. I enjoy that part of the job as well.
“As I said if it wasn’t always for the same corners, then maybe [I’d enjoy it] a bit more, but it’s part of the drill.”
Barcelona’s monopoly is under threat, however, with French GP host circuit Paul Ricard keen to add at least one winter test to its schedule.
But asked about that possibility, AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost said: “I prefer here (Spain). Ricard from the corners, from the surface, it’s not so optimal as here in Barcelona.
“And the weather could be good there but I have been a couple of times in Ricard with very, very cold [conditions]. The Mistral [wind] in summer, it looks like in winter as well, but very cold and I didn’t have so good experience in the past.”