Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn says in-season testing almost finalised – Formula 1 news
Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn has recently revealed that the teams are almost done with an agreement regarding a new testing schedule which includes the moving of one of the pre-season test sessions to a date after a couple of races of the season.
“There's a lot of discussion at the moment but the plan is to try and defer one of the winter tests into the season at a convenient time and to spread those winter tests [out] with a little bit more gap in between,” Brawn said.
There were rumours that in-season testing would be re-introduced in 2012 and it seems that the teams are heading in the right direction if they want that to happen.
In-season testing was banned in 2009 but since the sport is getting a little complicated and the technological aspect of the sport is more highlighted nowadays, it seems that in-season testing will become a part of the sport once again as it is required.
Regarding the current deal the teams are coming up with, Brawn stated that there have been a lot of discussions and it is pretty much confirmed that the pre-season test session idea has been approved informally.
“So the plan is to have three major winter tests which will be split by about a week, leading up to the season and then another test in the early-ish part of the season - perhaps after the flyaways, perhaps just after one of the European races. So I think
that's a better programme,” he added.
Other than that, the team principal stated that since reliability is not an issue anymore, having extensive pre-season test sessions is not required and having a gap in between these sessions is going to make it easier for the teams to evaluate their data.
Currently, there is just around a 2-3 week gap between each pre-season test session which is not enough for the teams to evaluate their respective car’s data as the pre-season test sessions are the first on track experience for the teams with their new respective
cars.
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