It's understood that Ferrari will make use of the two permitted filming days during the coming 'break' in a bid to close the gap to Mercedes.

The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi events means that there is no racing in April. In days gone by, like the majority of its rivals, Ferrari made use of every available moment to take to the test track, indeed many teams had dedicated test crews.

Now, however, testing is strictly limited, and with simulator work unlikely to offer the sort of data required, Ferrari is to make use of its two filming days.

Over the course of a calendar year, each team is allowed two days for filming purposes, and while this is meant to be for promotional purposes teams usually use it for testing.

Each filming day is limited to 200kms of running, and other than the fact that Pirelli provides special tyres - as 'performance' tyres from the 2026 range are not allowed - only homologated parts are permitted in order to prevent secret performance development.

Nonetheless, Ferrari is expected to take to the track in a bid to close the gap to Mercedes. Though it is unconfirmed, it is thought that Monza might be used, the track one of several where the current energy management rules are likely to cause major issues.

Though nothing has been confirmed, Lewis Hamilton has made clear that it is in straightline speed where Ferrari is losing out.

"It seems mostly on straight," he said of the Silver Arrows advantage. "It seems more so when they open up the ESM, that's when they take a huge step, so whatever's going in that phase is an area we need to understand.

"They seem to have a little bit more deployment," he added, "so less de-rating at the end of the straights than some of us. So we've just got to work on trying to see how we can eke out more from our engine."