FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

F1's testing agreement will be slightly modified next year so that new or returning drivers can get some experience of their cars prior to racing.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, if a team wants or needs to alter its race line-up during the 2010 season, a one-day test for the replacement will be excluded from the total ban on proper in-season circuit testing.

Drivers eligible for the measure this year would have been Michael Schumacher, Luca Badoer, Tonio Liuzzi and rookies Jaime Alguersuari and Romain Grosjean.

To prevent abuse of the measure, in situations like that of Schumacher - who ultimately did not return to race - his test day would have been deleted from Ferrari's allocation of testing for the subsequent season.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

Obviously a good decision, and it's nice to see some foresight about possible abuses of the new ruling. That said, I think the testing ban is still much too strict and has detracted from the entertainment value of the sport.

[vaptin]

although they only get one day in total?

[bud]

i think firstly the test should be using the last race spec for that said teams car so no new parts or anything can be used. as this can open the abuse of this up for a new driver every race!

[McLaren Fan]

i think firstly the test should be using the last race spec for that said teams car so no new parts or anything can be used. as this can open the abuse of this up for a new driver every race!

I like your first point, but teams switching driver each race would be counterproductive, as each new driver would not be used to car and only get one race's worth of points for the drivers' title.

[Gilles 27]

hmm, i have mixed feelings about this. I'm sure we wouldn't even be having this discussion if Badoer was a better driver...

[vaptin]

isn't that the point? debating wether the testing ban hindered in some way his competitiveness - which generally lowers the quality of the sport?

[bud]

i think firstly the test should be using the last race spec for that said teams car so no new parts or anything can be used. as this can open the abuse of this up for a new driver every race!

I like your first point, but teams switching driver each race would be counterproductive, as each new driver would not be used to car and only get one race's worth of points for the drivers' title.

i was being abit far fetched but whats to say they test the driver then dont pick him because he wasnt fast enough. as long as they arent allowed to throw new parts on there then im cool with it.

[Gilles 27]

the testing ban had no effect on Badoer's performance imo. Grosjean and Alguesuari have been on the pace straight away. Badoer was just not good enough and testing would not have changed that.

[Gaz]

i can see alot of drivers being swopped if there poor just so teams can test new parts.

should keep them honest as Martin Brundle would say anyway.

[myownalias]

In-season testing for new drivers is a good idea but it would have to be scrutinised by the FIA to make sure no new parts are installed on the car. I believe that a car revision that is three races old should suffice to stop teams cheating or gaining a competitive advantage, also I believe that telemetry shouldn't be allowed to be collected for later use!

Also what would happen if a team changed drivers more than once in a single season?

[JamesD89]

Obviously a good decision, and it's nice to see some foresight about possible abuses of the new ruling. That said, I think the testing ban is still much too strict and has detracted from the entertainment value of the sport.

Foresight's probably not the word, if they had that these rules would have been in place in March.

They did however own up to their mistakes instead of pretending they're not there. Unlike some governing bodies.

[headless]

About time

[Taran]

Well its about time thats all i can say!

Just imagine if we had it this season...with a bit of practice...Badoeur could have been on pole!

[Rusko]

i think the testing ban has ruined the season, but at least made friday practice worth watching. it keeps the cars out on track for nearly the entire sessions. i just think that there should be a few test weekends mid season, that all the teams can attend. i know it would cut down a bit on the secrecy of some updates but then it would be a level playing field at least.

it would just cut down on things like the brawns being a second quicker than everyone else for the first few races.