Why?..... I don't understand this line of thinking at all; Michael & Nico run all weekend - Provides a bunch of data that can be used in subsequent testing. But then lets throw in a further variable by using a different jockey - I reckon the value of the data is substantially reduced. I like the idea of letting rookies/reserves run, but let 'em test whatever with whoever they want - Doesn't cost anymore one way or the other. Cheers, Ian
Testing was banned to reduce costs. If we bring back testing for the real drivers, then we might as well end the engine development freeze, bring back qualifying engines etc etc There is a real need for rookies to get used to F1 cars. But there is no need for regular testing as it only leads to more development escalation. And for those who say cost control is nonsense: Well great, then we just slashed the field in half. I like a full grid of 24 cars, even if the Virgins and HRTs have no chance at winning. But they should have a chance at participating in F1. Not for charitable reasons but because it is more fun to see more cars than just a handful of teams for which costs are no object.
i like the all day friday format with anything goes. whatever the teams want to do. after all it's testing not racing
To save costs, all they need to do is copy what Moto Gp have been doing for years, hold a few test days on the Monday and Tuesday after the race. But i also think each team should have at least one "joker card" day, where they can hire and test at any track of there choosing during the season.
+1 They had got completely out of control - Not one, but two dedicated test teams were being run by a few of 'em come the end. I don't see the correlation - *Maybe* they're allowed another engine or two to compensate for the extra miles - Although even that is debatable. It's not mandatory that you run, but you're welcome to, eg, use Silverstone on Monday (and possibly Tuesday as suggested). Nothing to do with qualy motors or engine freezes. I agree the rooks need more opportunity. Easily solved; 2 cars - one driven by the reserve guy, the other shared between the regulars (or driven by just one, your choice.) They could even mandate something like the rook has to do more laps than the main dude for example. +1 The battles at the back (who's improving, which teammate is quicker etc) are of almost as much interest to me as the big guns up front. As I've said before, it does appear that the "resource reduction agreement" is having an effect on some of 'em - Which is fine, they needed to reeled in. But the additional expense of running on a Thursday/Monday is a drop in the ocean. Would it accelerate the development wars? Certainly, but I also suspect they wouldn't go down as many blind alleys as they do now.... "Well, the CFD said it would work!" or "it worked in the tunnel" - What's it do on the track is always the final arbiter, and they can't find out at present. Cheers, Ian
True dat. What I was trying to say was, that if you open the flood gate to testing, you might as well open the floodgates to all kinds of other technologies because you clearly no longer care about cost reduction/savings. It all depends on what scale they would allow testing. If it is e.g. done on a Thursday before or a Monday after a GP at the same track for one day, then that sounds fairly reasonable and shouldn't generate a whole lot more of extra expenses. That I don't have a problem with. But running separate test sessions, separate test teams on tracks unrelated to a GP sounds crazy. Ferrari had an "unfair advantage" with Fiorano and Mugello, but other big teams did similar stuff by going endlessly to Silverstone or Jerez etc. THAT should all remain banned because it just ends in further cost escalation.
Good luck with that one!. The first and second practice sessions are held on Thursdays so the locals can get around the place freely on Fridays (and escape the race weekend if they wish), and almost immediately after the qualifying/practice sessions they have to open up the circuit ASAP to keep the locals happy so I can't see them entertaining having the roads closed again just to test F1 cars at other times in the year.
