Soldato
Posted this on F1fanatic but would be interested to see what people here think.
The change to the 2016 F1 calendar, bringing forward the start in Melbourne, has had a knock on effect to the initial testing program.
This test program had already changed, dropping the number of tests from three to two (losing Jerez in the process). Now that test program is even more compressed into the start of the season. It now looks to be:
22-26 Feb, Barcelona
1-4 Mar, Barcelona
18-20 Mar, Melbourne
Although the regulations are relatively stable from 2015 to 2016, the lack of testing must be a concern on several levels.
Firstly, there are now just 8 days available to test a brand new car and get it up to a race performance standard. All the teams will be running significantly changed engines, and that’s not a lot of track time to test them.
Secondly, there’s little time between tests to make any significant changes, even modifications to aero let alone more complex components. Teams will be continuing testing in Melbourne to a far greater extent than ever before.
I worry about the impact to safety. These cars are now being put together in record time with a minimum of real world testing. Although manufacturing standards are higher than in the past, this doesn’t feel like sufficient time to safely test everything. How long will it be before a component fails and flies off into another driver? The chances must be slim but equally they must be increasing.
This reduced testing isn’t reducing costs at all – it is increasing them because the time available to develop is shortened. There’s going to be a higher risk of failure, and as well as the possible impacts on safety it also risks a higher number of retirements and ruining the on-track race spectacle. After all, as much as I personally enjoy watching testing the majority of F1 fans go to watch races, and that’s where the show should be at its best.
If this isn’t resolved by the next set of significant regulation changes in 2017, the start to that season risks becoming a test for a number of the teams rather than a competitive race. F1 doesn’t need that right now, and it certainly doesn’t need to risk making the sport less safe.
The change to the 2016 F1 calendar, bringing forward the start in Melbourne, has had a knock on effect to the initial testing program.
This test program had already changed, dropping the number of tests from three to two (losing Jerez in the process). Now that test program is even more compressed into the start of the season. It now looks to be:
22-26 Feb, Barcelona
1-4 Mar, Barcelona
18-20 Mar, Melbourne
Although the regulations are relatively stable from 2015 to 2016, the lack of testing must be a concern on several levels.
Firstly, there are now just 8 days available to test a brand new car and get it up to a race performance standard. All the teams will be running significantly changed engines, and that’s not a lot of track time to test them.
Secondly, there’s little time between tests to make any significant changes, even modifications to aero let alone more complex components. Teams will be continuing testing in Melbourne to a far greater extent than ever before.
I worry about the impact to safety. These cars are now being put together in record time with a minimum of real world testing. Although manufacturing standards are higher than in the past, this doesn’t feel like sufficient time to safely test everything. How long will it be before a component fails and flies off into another driver? The chances must be slim but equally they must be increasing.
This reduced testing isn’t reducing costs at all – it is increasing them because the time available to develop is shortened. There’s going to be a higher risk of failure, and as well as the possible impacts on safety it also risks a higher number of retirements and ruining the on-track race spectacle. After all, as much as I personally enjoy watching testing the majority of F1 fans go to watch races, and that’s where the show should be at its best.
If this isn’t resolved by the next set of significant regulation changes in 2017, the start to that season risks becoming a test for a number of the teams rather than a competitive race. F1 doesn’t need that right now, and it certainly doesn’t need to risk making the sport less safe.