Over the French GP weekend, the teams discussed possible venues for the two tests, which have to take place on the Tuesday and Wednesday after a race weekend.

Bahrain is almost certain to retain its role as the venue for the first test, which it hosted this season.

However, with the Spanish GP in doubt, Barcelona - which held the second test session this year - looks set to be dropped.

There are few options for the test, which has to take place in Europe, before the summer break, at a venue the teams approve, and after a race which is not the first part of a double-header.

If confirmed as a race venue, Silverstone will potentially ticks all the boxes, although the risk of bad weather is one downside cited by Pirelli.

"I have not heard about a test but we'd be keen to hold it," Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle told Motorsport.com. "Clearly they won't test with us if we don't have a contract, and that's still the case."

The teams have agreed to continue to hold the two four-day pre-season tests at Barcelona, even if there is no Spanish GP on the calendar.

Bahrain was given serious consideration, but logistical and cost issues, especially for the smaller teams, caused the idea to be dropped.

Barcelona circuit president Vicenc Aguilera has made it clear that he would like to host testing even if the race is dropped.

"I think it's a good event also," he told Motorsport.com. "And we want to be the reference circuit for all the world championship. It's something that's an asset for us. And then we should use the asset as best as we can."