Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Pit Lane. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Rookies and the testing ban
Topic Started: Aug 2 2009, 09:09 PM (240 Views)
Red Andy
Member Avatar

Moderator
Quite a few people have criticised the testing ban for not allowing rookies to be properly acclimatised before they enter F1. We saw how Alguersuari had to use the Hungarian GP as a test session to help him learn to drive an F1 car, doubtless the same will be true of Grosjean when he enters in the next couple of races. This has all been thrown into sharp relief with the revelation that Michael Schumacher might be allowed to test a 2009 Ferrari before he races at Valencia.

My view is that, as a cost-saving measure, the in-season test ban is reasonably effective. There are problems, with rookie orientation, limited development and so on. So, a solution:

Keep the ban on testing, but make the Friday of each GP weekend a dedicated test day. From 8am to 6pm on Friday (or for whatever length of time is feasible), the track is open for F1 testing. Teams are allowed to run up to three cars, with engines, gearboxes etc. not subject to the long-life restrictions. Any driver with an F1 superlicence is permitted to take part in the sessions.

The timetabling of the test session would mean that a few of the support races would need to be moved around. GP2 practice and qualifying could take place on Saturday, with a single race on Sunday (it's supposed to be an F1 feeder series so could do with being more like F1 anyway). Other support races could be scheduled to fit the timetable over the two days.

Teams get a chance to test parts in season, without the cost of travelling to a test track. Rookies get a chance to orient themselves in an F1 car. The spectators get to see F1 cars lapping all day, which is what they've paid to see.

Thoughts?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jack
Member Avatar
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
It's a very reasonable and good idea. <thumbsup>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TheCompleteGuitarist
Driver
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I agree, good idea, can you make it happen?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Red Andy
Member Avatar

Moderator
TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 2 2009
10:26 PM
I agree, good idea, can you make it happen?

I'm trying to put together my bid for FIA President but I'm having trouble assembling a 22-person cabinet. <think>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ELUSIVEJIM
Member Avatar

Forum Host
Red Andy,Aug 2 2009
09:45 PM
TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 2 2009
10:26 PM
I agree, good idea, can you make it happen?

I'm trying to put together my bid for FIA President but I'm having trouble assembling a 22-person cabinet. <think>

John Lewis sell cabnets but i am sure you could get one cheaper.

Not sure if they would hold that many people <think>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rob
Member Avatar

Admin
Red Andy,Aug 2 2009
04:45 PM
TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 2 2009
10:26 PM
I agree, good idea, can you make it happen?

I'm trying to put together my bid for FIA President but I'm having trouble assembling a 22-person cabinet. <think>

I'll support your run, and the idea.

The down side it the limited running for the rest of the support series they go w/ F1. Maybe 1-5pm Thursday.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Lord Tau
Member Avatar

Admin
Red Andy,Aug 2 2009
10:45 PM
TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 2 2009
10:26 PM
I agree, good idea, can you make it happen?

I'm trying to put together my bid for FIA President but I'm having trouble assembling a 22-person cabinet. <think>

Well, there's at least 22 members of TPL. You can pick from us! <roflmao>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stradlin24
Member Avatar
Team Boss
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Safety should be a big factor. I’m not saying that JA can’t race an F1 car but if he had a huge crash at Hungary it would be put completely down to inexperience. There is no point making motor racing any more dangerous then it needs to be and letting Alguersuari drive the other weekend with only a tiny amount of time in an F1 is not good practice.

The rules for sure need to be changed to allow rookies (and indeed refreshers) a chance to get experience

Look how it works for the Indy 500. All rookies need to pass a four phase orientation programme, they need to do so many laps at a certain speed and then build it up until they reach the final speed required to pass. Also, any driver that hasn’t been active for 12 months or more has to take a refresher test, same idea but it doesn’t have to taken in steps, a driver can get up to full speed straight away. Drivers do fail it, Scott Mayer failed it and also someone else who I’ve forgotten. The tests are taken the day before the track opens for all cars, I know they have a lot less time restraints at Indy because they have a full month to get everything in but the idea is correct.

It would also save a lot of arguing

driver testing should be as important as car testing
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
John
Team Boss
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
The Schumacher drive is not the usual circumstance for wanting an exemption to the current rule:

Unlike Alguersuari who is in the team as a regular driver and it was the teams decision to replace Bourdais, Schumacher is merely filling in for a few races at most for an injured driver... Ferrari where forced to enter a driver with no experience of the car so the two cases are fundamentally different.

The rule about test ban during the season is primarily aimed at teams developing the cars and new aero etc... not about getting a new driver acclimatised to a new car.

If the car is the same spec as has already raced they nothing new will be gained by the teams only the driver in question will get a few hours more familiar with the car.

Had the scenario as has happened been considered when the rule was being compiled I m sure provision would have been made to allow such a teat to be conducted, so long as all teams agree to it (as they apparently have)


This all sounds most reasonable and had this been just about any other team/driver less fuss from the usual suspects would have been made.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Lord Tau
Member Avatar

Admin
Maybe rookie drivers should go out with 'L'-plates attached to their cars. <roflmao>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stradlin24
Member Avatar
Team Boss
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Lord Tau,Aug 3 2009
08:45 AM
Maybe rookie drivers should go out with 'L'-plates attached to their cars. <roflmao>

or those embarrasing P's that I keep seeing
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iberiafromoz
Member Avatar
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Red Andy, Great idea.

I wouldn't add an extra day as this will incure extra cost to the team and the track operator. But once on site we could see some testing taking place on the Friday morning say from 9 to 12 and do the usual practice in the afternoon say 1 to 2 and then 3 to 4 perhaps.

Hope Max is reading all this. ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Red Andy
Member Avatar

Moderator
stradlin24,Aug 3 2009
09:00 AM
Look how it works for the Indy 500. All rookies need to pass a four phase orientation programme, they need to do so many laps at a certain speed and then build it up until they reach the final speed required to pass. Also, any driver that hasn’t been active for 12 months or more has to take a refresher test, same idea but it doesn’t have to taken in steps, a driver can get up to full speed straight away. Drivers do fail it, Scott Mayer failed it and also someone else who I’ve forgotten. The tests are taken the day before the track opens for all cars, I know they have a lot less time restraints at Indy because they have a full month to get everything in but the idea is correct.

I did have the Indy 500's rookie orientation program in mind when I was thinking of this idea. Fundamentally it's a good idea but as you say there are problems with applying it to F1 which has to take place over a single weekend. Hence turn Fridays into test days with the opportunity for rookies to test. And perhaps stipulate that in order to race in an F1 weekend, rookies must have participated in at least one pre-season or Friday test session.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
Lord Tau,Aug 3 2009
09:45 AM
Maybe rookie drivers should go out with 'L'-plates attached to their cars. <roflmao>

In IndyCar, rookies used to have three vertical red strips on the back of the rear wing. If you race motorcycles in the UK, until you have competed in a certain number of races at a certain level, you are required to wear a yellow (or is it orange?) vest over your leathers. In both cases this is so the other people know that you are relatively inexperienced.

Anyway, going back to the matter in hand, I would suggest that all day on a Friday would be a little excessive. Perhaps a couple of hour-and-a-half sessions, certainly. All drivers, no matter what their relative background, should have a chance to do a race distance or so in the car they are going to drive for the weekend. Yes, in STR's case they forced the issue by sacking Bourdais, but that doesn't mean their replacement driver should be punished. Ferrari's situation is different, and yet the same. Different as their driver is replaced due to an injury, but the same as much as their replacement driver has not driven a car to this year's specs, and last competed in the series in 2006.

The issue is the testing ban. Perhaps if F1 went back to the 'three driver' Friday sessions as compensation they would be able to give experience to their reserve drivers? I seem to recall a certain 17 year old ( <yikes> ) German running fastest at Monza in a BMW a few years ago
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
stradlin24,Aug 3 2009
09:56 AM
or those embarrasing P's that I keep seeing

Doesn't that mean 'Prang inevitable'....?

<roflmao>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Formula 1 · Next Topic »
Add Reply