Push for in-season testing to return

Duke

Duke

Duke

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Formula 1 teams have begun talks to see if there is a way for in-season testing to return next year, with FIA president Jean Todt having said he wants to free up the rules to allow more running.

Todt revealed at the Turkish Grand Prix earlier this year that he was keen to get teams to have some limited running during the season, rather than have testing limited to just a few events in the build-up to the first race.

His calls initially fell on deaf ears, with teams worried that a return to testing would lead to a big escalation in costs at a time when budgets are being kept tightly under control.

However, F1 think tank the Sporting Working Group has now begun discussions to see if consensus can be reached on a way to re-introduce testing without it having too big an impact on expenditure.

One suggestion that has been mentioned is to hold an extra young drivers' test during the summer - to add to the one that takes place at the end of the year.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93096

Bound to do it at Spain but just hope they do it at Silverstone in June again!
 
It would be great. I would like to see Monday testing after the race. With new/test drivers only. Say 3 or 4 times a season.
 
Yep, limited testing during in season, whilst using their heads...time it in such a way teams don't have to transport masses and masses to remote locations inbetween races..
 
If they are going to bring back separate (i.e. not Monday after a race) testing then it should be on tracks that dont hold races.

However, I think the Monday practice idea is a good one, especially for races wit a long gap after before the next one.
 
Why would the teams want to test parts after a race? Wouldn't they have already tried them on the Friday to see whether to run them in that race?

Having young drivers going around would be good for them though.
 
They bring a lot of parts to race weekend and don't get enough time to get real data on it, or try different configurations. They could also bring more parts for the Monday as well.
 
I would like to see some testing but would Pirelli agree?
yes they could do some of their own testing but they will have to supply wet and dry for the test for all the cars not just their one.
 
Duke said:
Why would the teams want to test parts after a race? Wouldn't they have already tried them on the Friday to see whether to run them in that race?

Having young drivers going around would be good for them though.
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Agreed. But the issue with in season testing is transporting basically an entire second team to tracks all over the world, and the costs involved. Using the track they are already at stops this extra cost.

I'd prefer a structured 3 day independent test mid season, at a non GP track.
 
Do you really need it though?

Mclaren did the best turn around of a car I've ever seen without in season testing. The competition has been still good without it. Plus costs for staff go up again or staff hours.

I'd like to see it at non championship tracks but as stated the costs would be a factor.

It is needed for new drivers/3rd driver though.
 
dannyjo22 said:
Do you really need it though?

Mclaren did the best turn around of a car I've ever seen without in season testing. The competition has been still good without it. Plus costs for staff go up again or staff hours.

I'd like to see it at non championship tracks but as stated the costs would be a factor.

It is needed for new drivers/3rd driver though.
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Teams still have the people to do it,well we do anyway. Ours are just on the running showcar now.Im sure all the others have the same setup.
 
Tell the teams they have to run the guys that are there for the race, introduce some rule that gives teams that have yet to get out of Q3 an advantage as it's them that need the miles more than anything.
 
If testing returns it should be at Silverstone as that will be the cheapest place to do it as all teams except Ferrari are based in England?

Ferrari already has their own test track so they can use that.
 
I agree with the sentiment that silverstone would be cheapest but regarding track temp it's the most useless when you consider how much of the rest of the season is at much higher temps than silverstone. Pretty useless for pirelli to conduct tyre testing at such a cold venue.

I really don't think the show has lost anything from having a testing ban other than bringing on 3rd/test drivers.

I can understand why the teams that have lots of money would want it back though.
 
The main downside of no testing is that if a team comes up with something very innovative, it is difficult for the other teams to catch up. Good for one team, bad for the rest. The f-duct was easy to copy but things like the flexy wings/floors, various exhaust layouts etc need a lot more development.
 
AcidHell2 said:
It would be great. I would like to see Monday testing after the race. With new/test drivers only. Say 3 or 4 times a season.
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Duke said:
Why would the teams want to test parts after a race? Wouldn't they have already tried them on the Friday to see whether to run them in that race?
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Well the simple solution to that is rather than the Monday after a race with a big gap to the next GP, do the testing on Wednesday or Thursday at the following race after a big gap between races. Easy :p
 
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