Christian Horner, Martin Whitmarsh against in-season testing sessions – Formula 1 news
Red Bull’s Christian Horner and McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh have spoken against the return of in-season testing sessions.
Both team principals are of the opinion that the in-season testing will increase the cost of the sport and smaller teams will suffer more.
On the other hand, International Automobile Federation (FIA) boss Jean Todt and Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo think otherwise.
They say that the in-season testing sessions will improve the quality of the sport because the teams will fine tune their cars for the races.
Todt said that the testing sessions should be brought back in Formula 1. He said, “I would have loved to have done it in 2011, but we could not impose it as there was no reason to impose it on safety grounds.” He added that 2013 will surely see in-season
testing sessions.
Luca also voiced similar opinion. He said, “F1 is only professional sport in the world where you can't train or test.”
On the other hand, Horner thinks that the testing sessions are going to increase the cost of the sport manifolds. Horner added that rather than the testing sessions, the Friday practice sessions time should be increased.
He stated, “Maybe we could do a bit more running on a Friday, or have a few more sets of tyres.” Horner added that teams will be encouraged to do more times on the track by optimising their cars.
Before the ban on the in-season testing session, all Formula 1 teams had two functional squads for their cars, one for races and one for extra testing. It increased the cost of the teams and if testing returns in 2013, the cost will escalate again.
McLaren team principal and head of Formula 1 Teams Association Martin Whitmarsh stated that bigger teams will test more and smaller teams will sit back due to annual expenditure. Martin added that the balance of the teams will falter so the cost must remain
the same for every team.
Nevertheless, Todt said that a proposal will be given to Formula 1 commission on Thursday in Valencia and then the final decision on the in-season testing will be made.
Tags: