Red Bull to skip Valencia, more testing for USF1

(GMM) Unlike the bulk of the established F1 teams, Red Bull will reportedly not appear with its new car at the first pre-season test at Valencia early next month.

Autosport said the RB6 will instead make its track debut at the subsequent Jerez session in order to give the team more time to work on the Renault-powered car.

Team boss Christian Horner is quoted as saying that "with the refuelling change, we've opted to give our designers as much time as possible".

He added that it is "unlikely" the team will make an appearance at Valencia even with the 2009 car.

Autosport also reported this week that, unlike any other 2010 entrant, the new American team USF1 has been given an extra two days of straight-line or wind tunnel testing.

The FIA's move, like the dispensation to allow track testing on US soil next month, is because USF1 is the only team not based in Europe.

"It is an example of how the FIA and the teams have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome," said sporting director Peter Windsor.