Formula One testing hit by snow

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 General view of snow before testing REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Snow hit the third day of Formula One's pre-season testing on Wednesday, with no cars on track for the first two hours while the medical helicopter remained grounded in near-freezing temperatures.

"You don't learn anything. We will never race in this circumstance, and the only thing you do is risk the car," commented Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.

"This being the first test of the season, we are lean on spares, and we cannot risk it. And at the moment it does not look much better on Thursday. It is getting warmer but still wet."

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 A worker clears snow from the track before testing REUTERS/Albert Gea

The first of two pre-season tests is due to end on Thursday, with the second at the Circuit de Catalunya next week. The season starts in Australia on March 25.

Teams have discussed adding a day on to the second test but have yet to decide.

"I am positive that next week will be better -- no rain, temperatures up to normal. And then you can do some work," Steiner told reporters.

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 The sign of the Montmelo circuit covered in snow REUTERS/Alan Baldwin

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by John O'Brien)

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 The snow covered statue of former Argentine formula one world champion Juan Manuel Fangio at the entrance of the Montmelo circuit REUTERS/Alan Baldwin

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 General view of snow on a safety tyre barrier before testing REUTERS/Albert Gea

F1 Formula One - Formula One Test Session - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain - February 28, 2018 General view of snow around the track before testing REUTERS/Albert Gea