HRT have announced they will not take part in next week's Mugello test, opting instead to "completely focus" on the team's relocation to Madrid.
Team opt instead to "completely focus" on move to Madrid
HRT have announced they will not take part in next week's Mugello test, opting instead to "completely focus" on the team's relocation to Madrid.
The team missed all of the pre-season tests as their car was not built in time and they will now miss their final opportunity to test the car this season.
The Spanish team failed to qualify within the required 107% time at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix due to a lack of running and since then they have continued to struggle for pace, regularly taking up the final two spots on the grid.
However, rather than making use of the additional running time in Italy next week, the team will instead carry out work on the car in their factory whilst focussing on relocating to Madrid.
"The start to the season was a little bit rushed for us and, since the cars were set up for the first time, we have been working on them at the Grands Prix," Team Principal Luis Perez-Sala said.
"The team and the material have just got back from Bahrain after leaving for Australia in early March. And they return, for the first time, to the team's new headquarters at the Caja Mágica in Madrid.
"This move is very important for us and by not going to Mugello we can work thoroughly on the car to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix. We won't have the new upgrade package until then so we've preferred to focus on what can contribute more to us, which is teamwork at the headquarters. And there is a lot to do".
