A security presence is monitoring where people are trying to observe the first Formula 1 test at Barcelona, with some moved on even from public areas.
F1’s first test, billed as 'Shakedown Week', takes place at the Spanish Grand Prix venue this week from Monday to Friday.
There are three pre-season tests this year for the first time since 2015, prompted by major car and rule changes.
That made teams want more track time before going to Bahrain, so a private test at Barcelona was organised in advance of two tests at the Sakhir circuit in February.
This is the first time in the modern era that a collective test featuring all or the majority of the teams has been held behind closed doors with media not allowed to attend.
Only a few people outside of the teams themselves are permitted to enter the track to assist with the running of the test and capturing content that F1 will distribute to broadcasters and other media.
However, as was already clear from Audi’s shakedown at the same circuit early in January, there is the possibility of observing the track in places from afar.
The Race’s own Jon Noble and Edd Straw are among several journalists, photographers and broadcasters who have travelled to Barcelona to assess what the test is like first-hand.
Sections of the Barcelona circuit are visible from public places, such as a nearby hiking trail. There are also parts where getting close to the track is possible on perimeter roads, but the view is blocked off by high walls around the actual circuit grounds.
A security presence has been noted in different places. A few journalists and a photographer had assembled at the most popular vantage point, a hilltop well outside the circuit grounds, but a security car arrived and a guard moved them on.
The rationale given was essentially that any view of the circuit, even on public land, is owned by the circuit.
It is being managed by sweeps of different locations. Several security cars also went round the perimeter road just before the test started at 9am local time, with one stopping behind Turn 3.
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A security guard was stationed atop the hill there as a lookout for at least the first hour of the test.
As the morning went on, access to perimeter roads also got closed off in an attempt to make security measures more robust.
This is likely to continue all week, although interest will probably be at its highest on the opening day.
Teams can run on three of the five days, with all 11 teams bar Williams expected to take part. McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin are not driving on Monday.
