08/05/2011
NEWS STORY
In perhaps the most dramatic move of his career as FIA president to date, Jean Todt has announced that he will push for a limited return of in-season testing for Formula 1.
While the FIA chief will be overseeing the switch to a new engine formula in 2013, that decision is one that the Frenchman inherited from FIA predecessor Max Mosley. In contrast, the reintroduction of in-season testing sees Todt overturn Mosley's decision to eliminate it.
The former FIA president was keen to reduce costs in the F1 paddock, and putting an end to the expense of constant in-season testing was thought to be an easy cost-cutting measure. But the lack of in-season testing has been a major disadvantage to rookie and returning drivers, who have a very limited amount of track time in which to become F1-ready before making their debuts.
Speaking to the media at a special Sunday morning briefing in the Istanbul Park paddock, Todt explained the thinking behind his decision to restore in-season testing.
"For me, it is a stupid decision to have no testing during the season," the FIA president said. "In the past it was crazy to have unlimited testing during the year, but to go from unlimited to completely banned, it is not the right measure. It doesn't allow young drivers to test, it doesn't give the opportunity for young drivers to learn some experience in F1, and I will make sure that this situation will change for the future.
"It cannot come back to free testing," Todt continued, "but teams now have simulation facilities in the factory, so we are not talking about it being a cost-saving for the big teams. So we will push for a few days of free testing during the season as soon as possible but by respecting the rules."
While it is unlikely that the majority of teams will oppose a return to restricted levels of in-season testing, Todt is so passionate about the need for more track time that he has avowed to unilaterally push the revised rules through for 2013 if the teams do not agree to the proposed change in time for the 2012 season.
"I would have loved to have done it in 2011," Todt explained, "but we could not impose it as there was no reason to impose it on safety grounds. So, it will be in 2012 if we get enough [backing from the teams]. It is something that we are going to present at the next Formula 1 Commission which will be on the Thursday in Valencia, and if not then, we can implement it in 2013 without any agreement. At the latest it will be 2013, but hopefully people will accept a few days testing during the season from next year on."
Todt's proposal for in-season testing allows for three two-day tests over the course of the season, in addition to the four weeks of pre-season testing the regulations currently allow