Comments on: Should F1 teams test before racing?

By: Gman

Gman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:42:52 +0000

I did not comment on this when it was originally posted, but it is quite interesting after linking here from the NASCAR at Indy article from the end of July.

To me, I don’t think teams should test at the same venues they will later race at. For one, this gives some circuits a different situation than others, in that teams can easily drive to Silverstone or Barcelona, but the flyaway venues cannot accomodate this- are fans that turn out for races getting a better or worse product than at circuits where testing is done the week before?

In my view, with all the resources that go into the development of an F1 car, the teams should be able to arrive at a GP with a resonable idea of what to expect. Therefore, my ideal solution is Twister27′s idea of a Friday test session, which would allow the teams to make small but important upgrades on-site. I imagine it would be a big hit with the fans also.

My only hang-up is the question of who profits from seling tickets to a test at a place like Silverstone? If Bernie and his people get the money, you can bet thell test on all the off weekends from here on out.

By: Quattro

Quattro — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:29:14 +0000

I do like this discussion alot and I have to agree with Keith (this time only!!!) but I want to add that testing on F1 circuits that are currently used should be prohibited.Test on silverstone when the race is in Donington,test on the Nurburgring when the race is in Hockenheim…etc.

By: the limit

the limit — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:59:09 +0000

I have never been a fan of testing, so my answer is no.
Racing is what it is all about, period. The teams get five months off in the winter to prepare, all the time they need. If they are not ready after that, then they’ll never be ready.
I am all for alterations, but they should be made back at the factory and readied somewhere else, and certainly not at the next Grands Prix venue.
I tighter race schedule, with more back to back races, would be far more interesting than testing.
The Barcelona example is a justified one. Apart from 1996, I don’t think I have ever seen a good Grands Prix held there.

By: Twister27

Twister27 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:52:50 +0000

Why don’t they just follow the MotoGP example and test after the race has taken place? I would have thought that was cheaper?

I also like the idea of Friday afternoon being a ‘test day’ give the team 5-6 hours of track time and let them put whoever they want in the car – they could even use the time to test new drivers or even better make it that their nominated 3rd driver is the only driver allowed to test for the first 2 hours.

By: Jean

Jean — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:49:22 +0000

I’m against testing during the F1 racing season and even more so at tracks where they will race on the following week. I think testing should be limited to the closed season , that would give the cars who can do the better job then an advantage. I’ve seen it with Williams for 3 years running now , they do well in winter testing , start the year off fairly well , and what appears as a gradual fade out as the season progresses. In fact , they are improving , but at a slower rate than the better funded teams. I’m not suggesting Ferrari or McLaren should not beat Williams , because they do the better job , and also they have more funding as a result of their success , but what I’m thinking is that limited testing would bring the mid-field closer . We already have a close mid-field , to have that pack closer to the front , would be great.

By: Rohan

Rohan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:56:39 +0000

I think for tracks that are atypical of the usual ones on the calendar (e.g. Monza), testing before the races is a necessity, if only from a safety point of view.

By: milos

milos — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:26:53 +0000

although is was not the same as testing on the same track as the next race, the situation is similar ahead of Monaco / Montreal races. Teams go to Paul Ricard test on track configurations simulating Monaco and Montreal circuits … but that is a bit off topic

I do not mind if they test on the same track as the next race but under one condition – no stand alone test days but add more races and make race weekend Friday the test day. There are 5-6 tests during the season or something like that, so cancel that and make the teams do 25 race weekends, that would give every team 25 test days per season. Allow the teams to use test drivers freely (give them chance to showcase themselves), give the spectators at the tracks more for their money. Instead of the test in Silverstone there could have been race weekend at Nurburgring, instead of the test this week we could have had race weekend at Imola, instead of Paul Ricard testing F1 could go to USA for GP for example …

By: Chalky

Chalky — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:09:14 +0000

The only point of testing is to physically stress test new parts and I’m assuming test the tyres that Bridgestone bring along.

If testing at circuits is reduced, you’ll probably see the money spent in other areas like simulated testing.
http://www.wirthresearch.com/sim.html
Honda use Wirth extensively to develop there Acura LMP2 car for the ALMS series.

I can’t see why this testing between GPs is required. Tols suggesting of testing after a GP makes the most sense, if teams feel they really need some test time.

By: Architrion

Architrion — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:06:45 +0000

Keith, you’re right but I think you’re missing one point. Those leading teams are in front of the pack because of BUDGET. That explains everything.

And I’m not sure Ferrari, McLaren or whatever team would find a way around lack of testing…. We have few examples of bad performance because what the wind tunnel predicts didn’t reflect on a real test.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:48:43 +0000

I like the idea of less testing, more racing.

But I don’t like the idea of punishing people for doing well – it’s only a short step from that to the kind of success ballasting nonsense they have in touring cars, and that would be disastrous for F1.

Besides which, I’m sure the teams would find a way around a restriction like that.