FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Frosty]

Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that a novel approach to reducing testing costs will be adopted by Formula One in the near future.

This year's in-season testing ban has been controversial, not because the teams have struggled to develop their cars, but because it has all but ended the test-driver era as well as made it difficult for newcomers to enter the sport.

"I am sure that in the future we will test on the Monday after races," the F1 chief executive said in an interview with Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"The cars are already there, the people as well. The costs will be kept within limits and we can give young drivers a chance.

"The failure of the current system is that it is virtually impossible to test young drivers," Ecclestone explained.
"That protects the established drivers, but it is absolutely wrong."

It had been suggested several months ago that the usual Friday practice sessions could become testing sessions instead. Ecclestone's plan moves that to Mondays, leaving the Friday practice sessions with their habitual role of setting up the cars for qualifying and race day.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

[vaptin]

It's a decent idea, friday for the drivers to set up etc, monday just for the rookies.

[scotty]

Makes sense to an extent and we really do need teams to be allowed to test mid season again, but would that mean they'd have to bring a test car to every race? Something which, depending on who you listen to, would completely contradict the whole cost cutting programme.

[bud]

law of averages says it happens, even for Bernie.

[Denthúl]

Makes sense to an extent and we really do need teams to be allowed to test mid season again, but would that mean they'd have to bring a test car to every race? Something which, depending on who you listen to, would completely contradict the whole cost cutting programme.

Apparently, according to a number of teams, it doesn't cost much to transport a third car around.

[Jabberwocky]

how about rookies test on friday with last years cars?

[stonemonkey]

From the title I was thinking he was announcing his retirement but the idea makes a lot of sense.

[cap-dude]

how about rookies test on friday with last years cars?

But I suspect that might cost more. Since teams might need different equipment to run last years cars.

I think the main reason monday is a great idea, is because it doesn't interfere with the other series. I'm mainly talking about GP2. It means that the gp2 drivers can concentrate on their races, without interference, and then test for F1 on mondays. Very good idea if you ask me.

Great idea from Bernie on this occasion.

I mean, we could have some great potential F1 drivers, who just don't like the Gp2 cars. But put them in an F1 car and they could be almighty quick. Testing other drivers on monday is just a great idea.

[Jabberwocky]

I suppose they would not need a 3rd car either as they could just use one or both of the cars used on the weekend (minus engine and box)

[McLaren Fan]

If testing continues to be banned, it's a decent idea. But the whole situation is still shitty. I want testing reinstated.

[EwanM]

I blame FOTA. It is their fault.

[Gaz]

If testing continues to be banned, it's a decent idea. But the whole situation is still shitty. I want testing reinstated.

Yeah well would lead to better racing since the cars will be sorted and setup properly

I blame FOTA. It is their fault.

The FIA made the rule, how is it FOTA's fault?

[EwanM]

If testing continues to be banned, it's a decent idea. But the whole situation is still shitty. I want testing reinstated.

Yeah well would lead to better racing since the cars will be sorted and setup properly

I blame FOTA. It is their fault.

The FIA made the rule, how is it FOTA's fault?

FIA only accepted it because it was a team (FOTA) proposal and they would not compromise on it.

If you remember the teams were asked by the FIA to go and bring costs down after they rejected the FIA's ideas. That's what they came out with. I remember writing an article where Mosley confirmed this and said he wished it wasn't the case.

[Gaz]

If testing continues to be banned, it's a decent idea. But the whole situation is still shitty. I want testing reinstated.

Yeah well would lead to better racing since the cars will be sorted and setup properly

I blame FOTA. It is their fault.

The FIA made the rule, how is it FOTA's fault?

FIA only accepted it because it was a team (FOTA) proposal and they would not compromise on it.

If you remember the teams were asked by the FIA to go and bring costs down after they rejected the FIA's ideas. That's what they came out with. I remember writing an article where Mosley confirmed this and said he wished it wasn't the case.

Nah the Testing ban was the FIA's idea...

why are the teams moaning like mad about it?

[EwanM]

If testing continues to be banned, it's a decent idea. But the whole situation is still shitty. I want testing reinstated.

Yeah well would lead to better racing since the cars will be sorted and setup properly

I blame FOTA. It is their fault.

The FIA made the rule, how is it FOTA's fault?

FIA only accepted it because it was a team (FOTA) proposal and they would not compromise on it.

If you remember the teams were asked by the FIA to go and bring costs down after they rejected the FIA's ideas. That's what they came out with. I remember writing an article where Mosley confirmed this and said he wished it wasn't the case.

Nah the Testing ban was the FIA's idea...

why are the teams moaning like mad about it?

Nope.

http://www.crash.net/f1/News/142580/1/i ... anned.html
The controversial, new-for-2009 in-season ban on Formula 1 testing could already be set to change, it has been suggested, as teams continue to struggle to get to grips with the rule changes and develop the complicated KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) technology.

The reduction in testing mileage was introduced as part of governing body the FIA's radical cost-cutting drive in the top flight this year, but with teams having to simultaneously grapple with a whole raft of new technical and aerodynamic demands – making the cars look substantially different to previous seasons – as well as the energy-saving KERS devices, that may now be set for an overhaul.

Not only is KERS proving problematic in that the batteries are losing performance rapidly – leading to doubt over the technology's durability over a race distance – but Scuderia Toro Rosso and Force India F1 are not even sure of being ready for the early-March test session at Jerez, meaning they could arrive in Melbourne in just under two months' time with as little as four days' testing under their belts. Worse still, should Honda be purchased, the Brackley-based concern would likely have no pre-season track time at all.

“It's obviously very tight because of what we've had to do,” Force India technical director James Key is quoted as having said by UK newspaper The Sun, referring to the Silverstone-based squad's new technical tie-up with McLaren for 2009, which will see the team switch engines from Ferrari to Mercedes-Benz.

“The plan is to hit the last two official team tests before the season. We've had late calls in the past and this is quite a late one, but it is for all the right reasons in terms of long-term stability for the team.”

It was originally agreed that testing would be capped at 15,000km over the year, with none at all between the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix at the end of March and the season-closing, inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix around the Yas Marina Circuit at the beginning of November. A knock-on effect of that would likely have been the scrapping of test teams, and according to grandprix.com, this is a process Renault has already initiated.

However, during the recent, rain-hampered group test in Portugal's Algarve region, test team managers gathered to discuss the situation – and are said to have tabled a proposal for there to be three official test sessions allowed during the campaign. The ban was implemented not by the FIA, but was unanimously agreed to by all members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA). Overturning the rule, it is noted, would require a similarly unanimous vote.

“KERS is new for everybody and no-one has achieved the level of reliability with it that we would like to have,” one leading team member is quoted as having said by grandprix.com. “It makes sense to have a transitional year, with less testing than before, but with a few tests early on in the season to help everybody get on top of their problems.

“It's not on everybody's interest to see only five or six cars finish races, so we're trying to get an agreement on a change of the rules for 2009.”