After factories have been closed for weeks, forcing Formula 1 team staffs to stay at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Mercedes And Ferrari will be back on track to conduct tests next week. Mercedes will run in Silverstone while Ferrari will drive in Fiorano.

The test organized by Mercedes at the British circuit marks an acceleration for the restart of the Great Circus in view of the Austrian Grand Prix, set for July 5th.

A tweet from Brackley's team revealed that Hamilton e Bottas will be behind the wheel for a day each with the 2018 car, with the aim of getting ready in view of the start of the championship. But these tests have been organized also to allow mechanics to understand and to respect the new health protocols.

"Valtteri (Tuesday) and Lewis (Wednesday) will drive the 2018 Mercedes W09 in a two-day test, in which the team will also practice the protocols to be respected when returning to race in Austria next month", Mercedes explains on his social media.

For Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc instead the end of the lockdown will start shortly in a few days on the Fiorano circuit. After more than three months of forced stop the two Ferrari drivers will return driving a single-seater, which (as for Mercedes) must go back to at least two seasons ago. The SF71H will then return to the track, and will be available for the two drivers for a whole day.

For the drivers it represents an important opportunity to return driving a real car, after so many weeks spent between simulators (more Leclerc than Vettel...) and physical training. However, it will not only be a test aimed at making the drivers 'warm up' for the start of the season, but also an opportunity, as for Mercedes, to allow the team staff to study the new anti-Covid procedures introduced by the FIA to regulate the behavior in the pit-lane and in the paddock.

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