FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[acosmichippo]

ok, how about this:

I honestly can't imagine any team thinking this is a bad idea.

I guess it depends on what YOU mean by 'this is' - what are you referring to by 'this'? From the context just before, I thought you meant the situation as is with 'this'.

i mean i think all teams would agree that a return of limited testing would benefit everyone.

[darwin dali]

ok, how about this:

I honestly can't imagine any team thinking this is a bad idea.

I guess it depends on what YOU mean by 'this is' - what are you referring to by 'this'? From the context just before, I thought you meant the situation as is with 'this'.

i mean i think all teams would agree that a return of limited testing would benefit everyone.

Ok, that clears it up.

[bud]

One option might be to have Mondays after a race as a test day, as the sometimes do in MotoGP. The teams are already at the track. Not every race, maybe just the races where there isn't a race the next weekend.

thats a bingo!

[bigpat]

Todt's best idea yet.
Gives the up and coming guys a chance to have a steer, and allows teams more develop opportunities, which usually means the grid get closer in lap time.

Ultimately, I think 6 tests, at 2 days each is about right. Agree that Monday testing is most cost effective in terms of cost and logistics.

Pat

[acosmichippo]

Why Monday after and not the Thursday before? I'd think Thursday practice would generate more fan interest. Who cares what happens the day after the race? And on Monday, there's more likely to be wrecked cars - eliminating the usefulness of the session.

[billindenver]

Open the track Thursday and Friday morning...and leave it open all day. Run all day long if you like. Run both cars. Test anything you want...show up Saturday ready to qualify. They cancelled testing to save money...well the teams are there anyway....let them run. I would really prefer it if only the cars that failed to make Q3 the race prior were allowed free practice. Let the back markers catch up!

[smokin]

I would really prefer it if only the cars that failed to make Q3 the race prior were allowed free practice.

Me too. No testing, no chance to perfect upgrades before the race. Without testing the back-markers are going to stay back-markers. Let's mix it up!

The alternative would seem to be perennial bridesmaids who don't attract sponsors and wither from lack of cash.

[bud]

I would really prefer it if only the cars that failed to make Q3 the race prior were allowed free practice.

Me too. No testing, no chance to perfect upgrades before the race. Without testing the back-markers are going to stay back-markers. Let's mix it up!

The alternative would seem to be perennial bridesmaids who don't attract sponsors and wither from lack of cash.

That is a good idea, though what if a Redbull or a McLaren dont make Q3? I think it would have to be based on both cars not making it.

[spankyham]

Let the teams decide where and when they want to test, certainly give them options to do so on event weekends if that's what they want. I don't agree with any limits personally, but anything is better than what we have now. It really is stupid that we even have to talk about whether teams can practice and where they can practice and how long they can practice for.

I don't really subscribe to the view that new teams need to be given some additional advantage, teams have managed to come up through the ranks in the past. But, if necessary, give them some extra time at a track the FiA pays for, be that at an event or somewhere convenient to them.

[texasmr2]

Let the teams test where and when they want, F1 is dragged down by 'collar and chain' the dogs are dead!!!

[acosmichippo]

Let the teams decide where and when they want to test, certainly give them options to do so on event weekends if that's what they want. I don't agree with any limits personally, but anything is better than what we have now. It really is stupid that we even have to talk about whether teams can practice and where they can practice and how long they can practice for.

I don't really subscribe to the view that new teams need to be given some additional advantage, teams have managed to come up through the ranks in the past. But, if necessary, give them some extra time at a track the FiA pays for, be that at an event or somewhere convenient to them.

But isn't the idea to attract (or keep) teams in F1 without having to spend more money than to make it financially viable? Like what happened to BMW, Honda, etc? Is it one reason Mercedes came back to F1? Maybe it won't work out like that in practice, but on paper i think it's a good idea.

[spankyham]

Let the teams decide where and when they want to test, certainly give them options to do so on event weekends if that's what they want. I don't agree with any limits personally, but anything is better than what we have now. It really is stupid that we even have to talk about whether teams can practice and where they can practice and how long they can practice for.

I don't really subscribe to the view that new teams need to be given some additional advantage, teams have managed to come up through the ranks in the past. But, if necessary, give them some extra time at a track the FiA pays for, be that at an event or somewhere convenient to them.

But isn't the idea to attract (or keep) teams in F1 without having to spend more money than to make it financially viable? Like what happened to BMW, Honda, etc? Is it one reason Mercedes came back to F1? Maybe it won't work out like that in practice, but on paper i think it's a good idea.

My view is that teams historically might have left F1 for financial reasons, but I don't think that's the prime reason teams (certainly those that have been successful) join. I think teams join because they have a purpose in being identified as the best of the best in motor sport. Somewhat like owning a Rolls. If Rolls made an car that was affordable for middle management it would no longer have it's status symbol stature.

The spate of teams that left F1 did so because their industry was in crisis. They were always going to be lost for the time being. When the motor industry gets back into a boom cycle the top marquee brands will be interested in rejoining - as long as F1 is still seen as a pinnacle.

I'm sure soccer would be cheaper and bottom teams might find it more affordable if all teams could only practice one day a week, but, as the standards dropped, who would be left watching apart from the die-hard fans?

I doubt many would agree with me, but what we probably need to do is make F1 more exclusive by allowing the top teams to spend more. The paradox of F1, which for me has even more truth than the paradox of thrift.

[What's Burning?]

The idea to cut cost is not a wrong idea, the problem is the implementation. Building multi million dollar simulators and buying time in hundred million dollar wind tunnels or building your own does not cut costs.

The easiest way to implement more testing would certainly be to tack on a thursday testing day to various race weekends. The money is already spent, and what the teams need is additional time to confirm or reject certain designs.

As it stands, all that's happened is that we've traded Friday's practice for a Friday test session, the actual practice goes on in a simulator.

Unlimited testing is not what I'd like to see brought back.

[vaptin]

Completely banning testing is hurting the newer teams worst of all though. They struggle to afford wind tunnels, and haven't already got the vast amounts of data needed for accurate simulations.

[bigpat]

Thursday testing sounds like a good idea for the fans etc, but normally the track is so dirty, that tyre & grip data is useless. Monday tests were always popular in the past because the track was clean, and rubbered in, giving an accurate comparison, from the race the day before.

Nowadays, it would provide a great baseline for both full, and empty fuel loads, and both tyre specs.

Testing isn't very exciting as a spectator I would think. The cars spend a lot of time in the garage, doing installation laps, and short runs. In season, I couldn't see many race distance simulations run, unless a problem is present. With limited testing, it would be speed the teams are after, and normally you only need 5 laps to verify a change.....