Push for in-season testing to return

[Duke]

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.

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!

 

[Duke]

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.

 

[Duke]

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.