Following discussions among team chiefs about their plans for the season ahead, it has now been confirmed by the FIA that there will be three group tests this year beyond the pre-season running.

The first in-season test will take place on the Tuesday and Wednesday after the Bahrain Grand Prix (April 18/19), while the second test has been shifted from Silverstone to Hungary – so taking place on August 1/2.

Although Silverstone will not host an official in-season group test, it is understood to be one of the options for private Pirelli testing with one or more teams after the British Grand Prix.

Teams are free to work on what they want during these tests, but do have to run young drivers who have competed in fewer than three grands prix on two of the four days.

Post-season test

Furthermore, the FIA has approved plans for a two-day post season test to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 28/29 after the season finale in November.

The final Abu Dhabi test has been laid down for "the sole purpose of providing all competitors with the chance to test the tyre specifications to be used the following season."

The timing of this test will allow Pirelli to trial compounds ahead of an extended deadline to finalise its 2018 tyre specifications.

New regulations published on Monday confirmed that Pirelli would now be given until December 1 to finalise its 2018 tyre compounds, with the construction having to have been sorted by September 1.

As part of an effort to help Pirelli in the development of its products, an expanded test programme was put in place last season which involved an extra 25 car days of in-season testing involving three teams.

For 2017, the 25 days will continue, with at least eight of the current teams having confirmed that they will take part.

F1 2017 group test plans