Jerez's GPDA inspection due next week

Jerez has listened to requests from the Formula One drivers' body to make much-needed improvements to its medical facilities and safety standards, promising that work would be completed in time for next week's first of two tests planned at the venue in December.

The Spanish track was viewed as the biggest concern among the GPDA, who has been pushing hard to increase safety at all testing venues.

Although the GPDA welcomed Jerez's decision to do the work, the body still wants to ensure that the track has been brought up to a standard that they are happy with.

Toyota's doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli, who has worked closely with the GPDA over recent years, will conduct the inspection and then report immediately on his findings.

It is not clear what will happen if the GPDA find that Jerez has not fulfilled its promises, although a boycott would be highly unlikely with teams and drivers keen to get as much winter running as possible before the Christmas break.

GPDA director Mark Webber told autosport.com last month that the drivers were confident things were moving in the right direction in Jerez - but insisted that they were keen to see tracks come up to a standard that they were satisfied with.

"It seems we are making sound progress with Jerez," he said. "They needed to, because apparently it was dire. It was so bad, and it might never get out just how bad it was. It wasn't good.

"We are going the right way about it, but we still have a bit more to do. This is something you cannot do at 70 percent. It is always the 30 percent that catches you out. So it has got to be done properly."