Is the Self Imposed Testing Ban About to Expire?

As we all know Ferrari haven't jumped on board with the self imposed testing ban to only 30 days during the season. While the others were comparatively sitting around after Bahrain Ferrari were racking up over 5,000 miles worth of testing. The closest competitor was BAR with about 3,500 miles. (per MotorSport.com)

Now as we all know a good many people on this board are all for them continuing on as normal. This, if the others continue on with the self imposed ban, would give Ferrari a tremendous advantage and would no doubt turn the end of the season into an all Ferrari affair. To me and to many off this board these victories would indeed be very hollow as they would be acting in a very un-sportsmanlike way. But, this brings us to another some other issues.

First if they continue some of the other teams might cave in and begin testing as well. I for one feel they should fall in line with the other teams. They're back on equal footing with the others and should continue as the others do.

If they don't... all bets are off. And I'm not sure we all might like the consequences. I think if any of the others break ranks it might very well be Toyota. As good as Ferrari is Toyota under MG is a very different animal than last year and might out develop Ferrari. They very well could be sealing their own fate by trying to get ahead. Not to mention that if Toyota were to break ranks the others might as well do so. With this I'd hate to say it but Ferrari might be worse off than if they were to curb testing and get in line with the others.

Second would be more talk and motivation for a break-away series if the other teams stay together on the ban and Ferrari go their own way. The first races outside of this past weekend have shown that Formula One without Ferrari is a heck of a show and worth watching in and of itself. I hope Ferrari have realized this and act accordingly.

 

It's hard to say what Ferrari might do but i'm pretty sure depending on how the season goes that agreement is gonna go out the window very soon. The main problem is that Ferrari has not only Fiorano to test on but Mugello as well. They can test all they want with a minimum of fuss. With the noise regulations in England the way they are none of the British teams can have that luxury they would have to travel which is a big disadvantage. I'm not sure if you can build a test track in France but i don't think Toyota has one. It's not Ferrari's fault they have two test tracks so in all actuality the ban is a bit unfair.

 

Maybe true but if you include the miles done in winter testing, Ferrari Bridgestone has done less than some of the others.

I feel that they should be allowed to test as much as they want. Otherwise, It will be tough to come with a suitable number of days that they can test. E.g. if Williams, Mclaren, BAR, Renault, Toyota all get 30 days each then Ferrari should be given 30 days * 5 = 150 days or a percentage thereof to acheive Michelin / Bridgestone parity. Not really a workable plan.

The other teams are saying that they will respect the 30 day period but come July/Aug and Ferrari has won a couple of races then I am sure the agreement is kaput.

I disagree - the races have been almost exactly the same as 2004 - just substitute Alonso/Renault with Michael/Ferrari. Imola was the first race with a good fight upfront and not just mid-pack.

 

In Britain the only track used for testing is Silverstone. I don't think it's noise limits that are the problem - it's the weather.
Toyota are based in Germany. They do not have a test track. There is a Test track in France. Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France is owned by Bernie Ecclestone and is the most advanced and up-to-date car testing facility in the world. An amazing place.

I don't think any of the top teams will keep to the 30 day test limit. Most of them have already done over 20! Here is what Ross Brawn has to say on the subject:
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I think it’s a little unfair what Ferrari is doing. I can’t believe the (other) teams have sat around this long about the issue. If I was Renault or Toyota I would say F*ck the 30 day testing agreement and I would start doing the same thing Ferrari is. That extra testing really showed how far behind Renault and Toyota are when they raced at Imola. Had MS not made a mistake in Qualifying he would have romped off into the distance.

Don’t bring the tire issue into this. Ferrari monopolized Bridgestone and this is the price they have to pay. That monopoly helped them out greatly last year, and nobody complained about that.

 

They already are. No teams are sticking to the test limit. However none have yet gone over 30 days. They will - soon.
If there is to be a limit on testing then it should be enforced by the FIA, not the teams. The teams cannot make rules. They spend more time arguing about which brand of mineral water to have at the table than stuff that matters.

 

I agree the FiA should enforce the testing ban. But how can they regulate it?

That's funny.

 

Agreed on both points.

A testing ban/limitation is a good thing to reduce costs. However a self imposed ban that not everybody accepts is a joke. The FIA should really regulate if they want to. Testing is restricted mandatory for everybody or not at all.

If I were running the FIA I wouldn't restrict testing but I would mandate only one tire manufacturer. That will automatically bring testing down to normal car development levels. A tire war helps nobody, but makes cars faster and less safe and creates unfair advantages either way.

 

I completely agree. I would also allow:

1) Tyre changes in pit stops
2) No refuelling during a race
3) Qualifying tyres and low fuel qualifying.

 

Believe it or not those are the miles run after Bahrain! Ferrari have now racked up more miles in testing than any other team.

 

As per Motorsport.com Ferrari over the past two days have chalked up 1081.98 Miles on the long course at Mugello. I didn't do the calculations for the 30 some odd laps on the "short" circuit. 368.26 on the 26th and 713.72 on the 27th.

 

Minardi have had 3 cars testing at Mugello. Minardi insisted it is not breaking the voluntary 'gentlemen's agreement' on testing by running three cars at Mugello.

''We're only allowing two cars on the track at any one time,'' team manager Massimo Rivola explained.

I think they should perhaps just allow one car on track at any one time as Christijan Albers and his own team-mate, test driver, Chanoch Nissany somehow managed to crash the two cars into each other! The incident occurred 'following a misunderstanding about track position', which 'resulted in both Minardi chassis having to be returned to the team's garage for repairs'. Although no one driver was blamed, it is likely that Nissany was at fault, simply because he has very little experience in an F1 car and at best is just a 'token' driver to try and drum up additional funding.

Of course, Minardi won't blame Nissany as he is paying the bills!

 

Is Nissany that old guy?

 

Yes. He's the 41 year old Israeli.

 

Ah, ok. That's hilarious that he managed to crash both cars into each other. Only at Minardi.

 

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=24270

 

Hehe. So much for the self imposed ban. As I said, it either comes from FIA and better be enforced or it is not worth a damn. Wouldn't be the first time I'd call Mc Laren a hypocrit.

 

This shows that Ferrari have done waaaay more testing than the others, but Brdgestone tyres have done much less mileage then Michelin. If Ferrari win this year and the other teams stick to the testing restrictions will it be a hollow victory?
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No, the victory would be just fine. This "self imposed" ban is nonsense.

But don't worry, Ferrari won't win.