F1 team chiefs supportive of reduced winter testing plans

Senior figures from three of Formula 1 teams have given their support to plans for a reduced winter testing schedule in 2020.

F1 is set to embark on a record-breaking 22-race calendar next year with the addition of new races in Vietnam and the Netherlands, putting added pressure on teams and their personnel.

F1 team chiefs supportive of reduced winter testing plans

Senior figures from three of Formula 1 teams have given their support to plans for a reduced winter testing schedule in 2020.

F1 is set to embark on a record-breaking 22-race calendar next year with the addition of new races in Vietnam and the Netherlands, putting added pressure on teams and their personnel.

Teams are currently in talks to run a reduced pre-season testing schedule next year, cutting back from eight days to six. These would be split into two three-day tests, held in the final two weeks of February at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Racing Point technical chief Andrew Green said a reduction of testing would not only help reduce pressure on teams, but also add to the unpredictability heading into the start of a new season.

“I’m of the opinion that we probably do too much pre-season testing anyway. With all the dyno and simulators we have, the cars are pretty reliable, and the places where we can go to test pre-season don’t really represent the majority of tracks that we go to,” Green said.

“If you really wanted to mix things up a bit, then I think reducing the amount of testing pre-season would help that. I think that’s a good idea.

“You’ve always got the unknown. It’s very difficult to simulate everything. I think a lot of the time, if you’re not really on top of it, testing can confuse you more than you learn. And that’s the danger of doing too much testing.

“I think we can do a bit less. It’s a tough test anyway, pre-season, it’s not a great way to start a season, especially with 22 races, to do two weeks pre-season.

“So if that was reduced slightly, it’ll reduce the burden on the people who have got to do it.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said a cutback on testing would helps teams manage their engines across the course of the season, avoiding added costs.

“I think if we are to introduce a 22nd race, the majority of teams are taking penalties and using four engines anyway, so one would assume that it would make sense to increase the allocation on power units and components,” Horner said.

“Perhaps if we look at the ratio and say rather than using engines for going testing, if we reduce the in-season testing and pre-season testing slightly, if that frees up an engine that the majority of teams are going to use anyway.

“From the next race there is going to be a whole raft of penalties coming through, and we’re only just halfway through the season, so introducing another race on top of that and expecting teams to get through on three engines and three sets of components is a bit of a tall ask.”

Ferrari F1 chief Mattia Binotto added that a cut in testing was “certainly something we need to discuss”, but agreed it “could be a great idea”.

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