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Pre-season testing for the 2018 Formula 1 season will begin on February 26, Autosport has learned.

There will be two four-day tests, both held at Barcelona, ahead of the season-opening race in Melbourne, Australia on March 25.

The first test will run from February 26 to March 1 with a second following between March 6-9.

There was consensus among teams that Barcelona was the best option given the quality of the track for data gathering and weather conditions at that time of the year.

One team pushed for a test at the Paul Ricard circuit, which will host next year's returning French GP, but the request did not gather sufficient support from rivals.

The running will be in addition to two in-season tests, each lasting two days, that will take place after the Spanish and Hungarian Grands Prix.

Each test will take place on the Tuesday and Wednesday following the track's F1 race - on May 15-16 at Barcelona and July 31-August 1 at the Hungaroring.

Teams will be required to allocate two of those four days to young driver testing.

2018 testing schedule

February 26-March 1 (Barcelona)

March 6-9 (Barcelona)

May 15-16 (Barcelona)

July 31-August 1 (Hungaroring)