[Rumours] Pitpass claim Ferrari may have violated the testing. -although not really about that!

[duke_toaster]

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39644
http://ferrarif1forum.com/2009/12/05...d-f1-test-ban/

If this is true, this is huge ...

[Jamesy-18]

Good. The testing ban is a joke anyway. Come on, they weren't testing anything new for their car obviously, they may or may not have just been testing a driver. I mean, I don't like seeing cheating in F1, but the testing ban is just a completely stupid idea imo.

However, on the other hand, I wouldn't trust PitPass as far as I could throw them, a lot of the time they just post utter *******s

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Good. The testing ban is a joke anyway. Come on, they weren't testing anything new for their car obviously, they may or may not have just been testing a driver. I mean, I don't like seeing cheating in F1, but the testing ban is just a completely stupid idea imo.

So cutting costs is a bad idea? Most other series have some form of testing limitation or a near-total ban.

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

However, on the other hand, I wouldn't trust PitPass as far as I could throw them, a lot of the time they just post utter *******s

One thing we agree on.

[Jamesy-18]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

So cutting costs is a bad idea? Most other series have some form of testing limitation or a near-total ban.



One thing we agree on.

Yes, they do need to cut costs. But not at the expense of young drivers who deserve time behind the wheel to get them up to speed. First and foremost, F1 is racing and I think a few people are forgetting that.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39644
http://ferrarif1forum.com/2009/12/05...d-f1-test-ban/

If this is true, this is huge ...

TGF is not signed to Ferrari as a racing driver though is he? so maybe it was not really a problem to have him drive the F60?

[Marbot]

Somewhere out there a small Frenchmen is possibly reading this thread and thinking: Sacre bleu!

[fredd1]

Not a worry.
Those red cars are teflon coated so nothing sticks.
We've seen it all before.

[Armco Bender]

"alluded to" wont actually stand up in court.

[ralf fan]

*stirs up controversy*. With Mister Todt in charge they can do what they like.

[JeremySmith]

This is purely a rumor, is there really anything in it?

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Yes, they do need to cut costs. But not at the expense of young drivers who deserve time behind the wheel to get them up to speed. First and foremost, F1 is racing and I think a few people are forgetting that.

I agree the rules need to be done to ensure that young drivers are getting mileage - the rules do include three young driver days at the moment. The principle of a the ban is correct, however I would phrase them differently. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

TGF is not signed to Ferrari as a racing driver though is he? so maybe it was not really a problem to have him drive the F60?

It would still be in violation of the rules though. At the time he was considered for a race seat. They would still acquire useful data for example.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

So cutting costs is a bad idea? Most other series have some form of testing limitation or a near-total ban

So far, no evidence proved the cost-cutting measures actually worked. Teams have their budgets and if they can't spend it optimally, they will spend it near-optimally.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17768.html

As for the secret Ferrari-test, more evidence is needed. 'One witness equals no witness.'

[Marbot]

So, is it a case of wrong helmet, right driver or right helmet, wrong driver?

[kartracer41]

Has anyone thought twice about this? What is the possibility that any team, especially Ferrari, were able to run a current F1 car, without someone getting a picture or two of it, at and Mugello at that?

On the other steered conversation, the testing ban is stupid. It is likely costing more money than it is saving.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by kartracer41

Has anyone thought twice about this? What is the possibility that any team, especially Ferrari, were able to run a current F1 car, without someone getting a picture or two of it, at and Mugello at that?

Well, it's a Ferrari owned circuit in Italy with good security and not a photocopy shop in sight.

[Bononi]

Aaaah... Finally a crontroversy full of conspiracy theories ! I was missing that !

[Jamesy-18]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

I agree the rules need to be done to ensure that young drivers are getting mileage - the rules do include three young driver days at the moment. The principle of a the ban is correct, however I would phrase them differently. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Wow, 3 days? Arn't the FIA being generous?!

Look at what happened to Alguerusari and Grosjean this year, even Badoer. Proof if any where needed that more needs to be done. We can't have guys running around that haven't driven an F1 car in 8 years or guys who have only driven them in straightlines. For one it's dangerous.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Wow, 3 days? Arn't the FIA being generous?!

Look at what happened to Alguerusari and Grosjean this year, even Badoer. Proof if any where needed that more needs to be done. We can't have guys running around that haven't driven an F1 car in 8 years or guys who have only driven them in straightlines. For one it's dangerous.

Perhaps the quota isn't enough, but there still needs to be some form of limit. Perhaps only having collective tests, and requiring a fixed percentage of the seat time is used for rookies and reserves would be a logical system.

[awrb]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Perhaps the quota isn't enough, but there still needs to be some form of limit. Perhaps only having collective tests, and requiring a fixed percentage of the seat time is used for rookies and reserves would be a logical system.

I think the best solution would be 5-7 tests organised by the FIA for all teams to take part in. The tests would all be in circuits not on the race calendar, and there should be some for of mileage/day limit for current race drivers. It's a simple solution and wouldn't really cost much.

[JeremySmith]

Just to ban testing completely was never going to work, as with most things in life a compromise is needed..

[Marbot]

I believe that the teams are already in talks with the FIA about doing a few "media friendly" tests during the season.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by awrb

I think the best solution would be 5-7 tests organised by the FIA for all teams to take part in. The tests would all be in circuits not on the race calendar, and there should be some for of mileage/day limit for current race drivers. It's a simple solution and wouldn't really cost much.

That could work. Circuits I suggest using are Lausitzring, Mugello, Vallelunga, Ricard, Jerez and Estoril (apparently all having 1T licences according to the thread on them). Algarve is a circuit I'd consider giving a GP to, Barcelona could be added to the list if the powers that be were kind enough to drop it from the calendar.

I'd ban current race drivers from driving in the last half of any day's running, and entirely from pre-Christmas tests. The last half given over to rookies rather the first to make it less important if they prang a car.

One of these could be tacked on to the proposed FOTA single launch and have some form of exhibition event tacked on - be it an all-star race or something else.

In-season testing could be brought back, within the European season. Two days at Motorland Aragon wouldn't hurt.

[olly83]

Originally Posted by awrb

I think the best solution would be 5-7 tests organised by the FIA for all teams to take part in. The tests would all be in circuits not on the race calendar, and there should be some for of mileage/day limit for current race drivers. It's a simple solution and wouldn't really cost much.

sounds sensible to me. I remember when they tested at kylami a while back they had massive crowds turn up. You could charge a fiver a ticket, throw in a lunchtime pit walk and autograph session and make it an event. It would bring f1 to new audiences and remove the boring races caused by over familiarity with the track.

[duke_toaster]

Sounds good if going to South Africa (for example) would pay for itself. Brno would be far more likely to do that.

Perhaps these collective tests could be filmed for TV purposes. No need to send a full camera crew, just a few in the pits, the on-boards and possibly even a chopper.

[awrb]

If we want to get the fans in, how about awarding a medal to the driver with the fastest lap at the end of the test? Keep Bernie happy, makes it a mini competition and means there would be something for the fans to keep track of. Could even limit that to none race drivers, which means young drivers could actually be judged from the outside, rather than all this 'they were running heavy' or 'they gave him a low fuel run at the end'.