Lets have a return of the test drivers

[WhiteBlue]

Theissen wants Friday practice for testers
Racing series F1
Date 2009-06-06
By Motorsport.com/GMM

Mario Theissen intends to propose that Friday morning practice in future be reserved for reserve and test drivers.

The BMW-Sauber team boss laments that a side effect of the almost total ban on testing has resulted in the near-death of the role as a dedicated 'third' driver.

"It was overlooked," the German is quoted as telling the New York Times, referring to the fact that it is still a requirement for teams to have on standby a driver able to replace at short notice their nominated race drivers.

But, because test drivers are now becoming so out of practice, Theissen rhetorically asks: "How can you rely on him jumping in the car? It is a safety issue."

Theissen is also concerned that stamping down so hard on F1 testing is making it hard for new drivers to come into the sport.

For instance, Ross Brawn admits that he chose veteran Rubens Barrichello for 2009 over the Brazilian's rookie countryman Bruno Senna because "there was no testing available".

That is why Theissen is contemplating the 'Friday morning' solution, thus effectively reviving the way in which BMW kick-started the careers of Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica.

The proposal would also ensure that being a third driver is again a valuable and respected role, with arguably the sport's most esteemed test driver Alex Wurz acknowledging that the industry is currently "dead".

It is obvious, that teams are feeling a severe lack of testing. BMW for instance cannot find the time to sort out their KERS and must totally focus on aero setup and evaluation.

I ask myself why for christ's sake they limit the Friday running to three hours. That makes no sense at all. Fridays were meant as substitute for normal test days and those used to have eight and more hours of testing if wether permitted.

Why do they piss a way the Fridays with unproductive work. At least the test drivers could go on track and do another 5 hours of testing without producing much cost and at the same time be entertaining the spectators. Young drivers would be getting a chance to pick up milage again in F1. Sometimes F1 is pretty dense.

[ESPImperium]

Also, this damned rule that the team cannot have a 3rd car built up, ready to rzce in the garrage is also ment to cut costs, when you have all the parts getting dragged allong to the race anyways, including up to another 2 tubs.

Makes no sence.

Theissen has a point, teams should be able to have their reserve driver out in the 3rd tub for all Friday FPs. Id also increase them to 2.5 hour sessions as well and do away with one support formule as well, GP2 is more than enough support for F1 to me.

Altho, the 3rd tub no-build rule could be kept, if each race driver was to be replaced by the reserve driver, where the driver is innexperienced or hasnt driven a F1 car in the last 10 races. Taking Red Bull as the case study;

FP1:
Driver #1: Webber
Driver #2: Hartley

FP2:
Driver #1: Vettel
Driver #2: Hartley

[KiwiF1]

Indeed, i absolutly support this if nothing more than because of the fact it is a great gateway into f1. Drivers often used to spend a year testing before they were given a full race seat, it probably does them great use as well.

[modbaraban]

New talents just have no chance of gettnig the same sort of preparation that the likes of Nico or Nelsinho had. And that should be changed.
The current sutiation may be good for the likes of Rubens and Fisico, but will be bad for F1 in the long term.