Ferrari's proposal on testing Todt explains the Scuderia's suggestion Ferrari has put forward to Bernie Ecclestone, its proposals for a reduction in testing for the 2005 season. This is meant as a first step towards a more comprehensive plan, which will be drawn up in the next few weeks, aimed at containing the running costs of a Formula 1 team. The Maranello companys Managing Director, Jean Todt, was asked to shed light on these proposals. Q.Why has Ferrari not adhered to the proposal put forward by the other teams, preferring to come up with its own suggestions? A.Because we believe that what has been proposed would not be effective and would not produce a real reduction in costs, as well as leaving the teams to work in a not very efficient fashion. At the moment, we face two alternatives: maintaining the agreement that has been in force since 2004 or come up with a plan that would lead to real cost savings for all the teams. Q.What are the main points of your proposal? A.Let us start with an assumption: limiting testing to 24 days, with two cars running on track, would mean an average of 400 km per car per day, giving a total of 19,600 kilometres. Well, we propose a limit of 15,000 kilometres per team, for the purpose of developing the car, with an obligation to run at just one track. There would be total freedom to schedule the testing according to the needs of each competitor during a period running from the first to the last race of the season. Q.So that covers testing for the overall development of the car, but what would be the situation regarding tyre testing? A.We believe we must establish some sort of parity between the two tyre constructors, Michelin and Bridgestone and, above all, take into consideration their requirements regarding safety, in the light of the new rules which come into effect at the start of next year. With that in mind, our proposal is for a maximum of an additional 15,000 kilometres dedicated to tyre development for each of the two companies. They would be at liberty to subdivide that testing between their teams, with the sole condition that these tests take place where the chosen team is already testing on track. Q.What will happen if your proposal is not accepted? A.Its very simple: we will all be free to test how and where we like. Having said that, we are aware that the issue of costs affects everyone and we have to move towards a reduction. Furthermore, some of the regulation changes already agreed and which we were among the first to approve, such as the need to use just one engine for two race weekends, are already taking us in this direction, as well as addressing the need to reduce performance on the grounds of safety. It is for this reason that, as I already said in Sao Paulo at the Brazilian Grand Prix, we will rapidly present a more comprehensive proposal, which will take into account information supplied by the FIA last May, with which we are in agreement. Q.The format of the Grand Prix weekend provides the possibility to use a third car in the first two hours of free practice on Friday, for those teams classified from fifth to tenth place in the previous years Constructors Championship. What is your view on this? A.This arrangement needs to be looked at. The opportunity to run a third car on Friday was designed as a concession to allow the smaller teams and their sponsors to gain more exposure. In our view, such an arrangement would be incompatible with a further reduction in private testing. In any case, we would not be opposed to the use of a third car, if the teams that chose this option then went for a consequent reduction in their overall mileage covered in private testing. Source Ferrari Press I find this interview to be interesting. Before I toss my POV on this interview, I want to see what the rest of you think of this. One of the most significant point that was made by JT was the fact that if Ferrari does not sign on and their proposal is not met, Ferrari will be free to test and not be bind to the agreement signed by the rest of the F1 teams. Unless I guess FIA decides to ban Ferrari for the season, which I think would be suicide for FIA if they do.
Team bosses reject Ferrari testing proposals Ferrari's F1 rivals have rejected the Italian team's proposal on how to limit testing and cut costs. "Ferrari's proposal is completely unacceptable," Renault's Flavio Briatore said after he met with other team bosses in London on Monday to consider the proposal. Ferrari did not attend the meeting but rather faxed their proposals to the other teams. In short the proposal agreed to put a limit on 24 2-car test days each season for all teams, but also to allow each tyre manufacturer to run another 15,000km of testing with the teams it decides. Obviously as Bridgestone's only major team Ferrari would benefit hugely from this while Michelin would likely have to share this amongst the likes of Williams, McLaren, Renault and BAR. Reuters reported Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart describing the proposals from Ferrari as 'a piss take.' All F1 teams except Ferrari signed up for their own initiative at the Brazilian Grand Prix in October that would halve testing during the season to 24 days total. Ferrari refused to sign up for the agreement. Ferrari refuse to reduce testing as they own two circuits in Italy and have a very close relationship with Bridgestone. This certainly makes things interesting. I guess it is now Ferrari vs. the World, wonder who is going to back down first, if at all. Either way, this is not good for Formula One.
Well, I definitley understnad where Ferrari and JT are comming from. Michelin has a HUGE testing advantage with now what, 5 competitive teams? Bridgestone? 1. And Ferrari ate NOT the ones that test the most, or at least with the largest testing budget. The british teams seem to spend far more on that, ie: Williams and McLaren. The media only seems to make Ferrari look most like the bad guy. What were other team bosses positions on similar issues when they were in dominant form, ie: Ron Dennis? So why should Ferrari back off? Well, that's only my $0.02.
It has been reported that Honda now sides with Ferrari on this topic. Wonder if Honda is concern that Michellin is going cater more to Renault, McLaren and William, so Honda may want to run an test more than the "agreed" 24 days of testing. Would be interesting to see if Toyota will follow as will, considering testing budget is not exactly an issue with them either. And with them not being one of the lead teams, they probably would not be getting the support they would like to have either.
