With testing set to be slashed in 2016, Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery has called for changes to be made to allow for additional testing with the 2017 regulation changes in mind. Tyre width at the rear is due to increase from 375mm to 420mm, and with the potential for a different manufacturer (Michelin) to take over supply, it is important that come the 2017 season proper the tyres being used by the teams are up to scratch and thus need testing. If Michelin get the contract, which seems unlikely, the tyres will increase to an 18in diameter (one of the conditions of the Michelin bid). This would further the need to do adequate testing as it would fundamentally alter the design of the suspension of the cars and vastly decrease the grip provided by the tyres. If Pirelli keep the contract, they will need to test just to sort out the wider tyres but currently are unable to start experimenting with cars using the new hybrid PUs due to the 2 year rule. Also, Pirelli have stated on multiple occasions that they feel they need to work on their wet weather tyres but have been unable to owing to the lack of opportunities to test them which has resulted in complaints from the teams during wet running (particularly in practice at the Canadian GP this year). With all that in mind, and taking into account young drivers do need a chance in the cars to ever progress, should testing be opened up more to allow the tyre company whoever they may be to get some meaningful data and also let some kids have a shot at F1? http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120237
I always thought the 3rd car on a Friday was a good idea if the teams put a rookie into one. These days it all come down to costs. The big teams can do it, the smaller teams can't. Simple thing would to give each team a standard extra few million quid a year each, regardless of who they are, on the proviso that extra tests are organised and the teams attend, or they could get 'paid' for turning up at a test to effectively cover their running costs of that test. Would at least stop teams from simply using the extra funds for other stuff. F1 can afford to do that and would be of benefit to all.
Not a bad shout, could even go as far as giving each team a 3rd car budget but apply certain rules such as: a) Driver must be under a certain age (maybe 25?) and has not participated in more than 5 GPs b) 3rd car must be made available for technical suppliers (tyre manufacturer, new fuel sensors etc) to use c) 3rd car only participates in practice sessions and MAYBE a race for just said 3rd cars with a grid set based on a combined time from the practice sessions.
Sorry to sidetrack this, but if Michelin's tyres are going to fundamentally have less grip, what kind of races are they planning to provide? If they're planning on going down the harder, more durable sompound route (which presumably they are if they want to truly differentiate themselves from Pirelli), the cars are going to be so slow, like several seconds slower than they are.
That is exactly what Michelin want to do. I've not quite wrapped my mind around it as that goes against the series of rule changes for 2017 to improve the lap times by 7+ seconds, although current feelings about those regs is they'll make it more like 9+ and I don't think anyone will complain! With the larger diameter Michelin want, there will be far less tyre wall so the drivers won't be able to lean on the car as much which will result in lower corner speeds. On tracks like Monaco it won't be as obvious but Suzuka sector 1, for example, would seem like snail pace.
That'd be a good way to fix the problem but you'd still have the smaller teams not doing that unless the finances were provided to support the 2nd car.
There should definitely be testing because at the moment anyone who starts very well has a massive advantage. A lack of testing blunts some real creative talents within F1 and more importantly takes away the competitive edge. I don't have the solution of how to do it fairly, but one would think that an extra session on. Friday or a Thursday of a race weekend would make a fair bit of sense with them being at the tracks already and hence no extra travelling costs et al.
