Em everyone. Ferrari already know all there is to know about that track. Its others who will pick up new data
Eh? Jacky: knowing everything there is to know about a track is the best possible way to commence ANY form of testing at it! You say "others will pick up new data" but your statement suggests you are referring to the track about which Ferrari "already know all there is to know". The purpose of testing is not to learn a new track - especially one which is not raced at - but to develop and test cars and new parts of them. And testing a car is far simpler when circuit characteristics can be removed from the equation. It should be as clear as day that "Ferrari" is the best answer to Cowboy's question at the start of this thread.
Why not just tag testing on to a Monday following a race? Everybody is there, no expense moving the crews and no advantage gained for either team since the race has been run for the year. Am I just over simplifying this?
This proposal has been mooted a lot Bhaji, but is a non-starter for several reasons; not least the fact that it undermines the whole purpose of restricting testing in the first place, because it would allow far too much of it! Other arguments against it are logistical. The teams work crazy hours away from home for much of the year already, and having an extra day at each venue increases the workload to the order of 33% over and above what they presently do. On top of this, it puts extra pressure on transportation, especially with back to back Grands Prix where it is essential to arrive at the later venue by Thursday at the latest. Unfortunately, it is not only politically undesirable and not wanted by any of the teams in any case; it is also highly impractical.
Every Monday following a race would be lunacy... but two or three days spread throughout the season would be manageable. It would beat having to send all the teams to Italy for a test mid season, surely.
Aah, sorry Bhaji. I'm getting tired and misunderstood. I thought you were suggesting every Monday following every Grand Prix! I agree that your proposal would seem practical and am not aware of specific objections to such an idea.
I deliberately tried to avoid intimating this. To put it mildly, Ferrari are (ahem) very well connected. - They hold far more strings to pull when they feel like it, than all other teams added together! Aah, the 'special' team: what would the FIA do without them?!
Formula 1 teams have now officially signed off next year's testing plans, AUTOSPORT has learned, confirming that Mugello will host the single 2012 in-season test next May. Over the course of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, every team principal has given his approval to a 2012 Testing Agreement, which commits teams to three pre-season tests and one that will take place at Mugello after the first flyaway events Under the terms of the agreement, 2012 testing will commence at Jerez in Spain on February 7, with two further tests taking place in Barcelona from February 21-24 and March 1-4. Then, following a push by FIA president Jean Todt to get in-season testing back, teams have agreed that a fourth test will take place in the gap between the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 22 and the Spanish GP on May 13. The Mugello test, which is being hosted at the Ferrari-owned venue, will then take place from May 1 - giving teams a good opportunity to evaluate car developments following the first four races. Mugello last hosted a Formula 1 test in January 2009 when Felipe Massa conducted the first test of Ferrari's new car. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94477
Testing should help teams like Lotus, HRT and Virgin. I think there should be at least 6 or 7 tests a season otherwise it's not really beneficial to anyone.
