11 replies to this topic

[danmills]

It may be obvious, but something I was thinking with regards to an increase in team testing...

Do you think that by having more in-season and winter tests, would the pool of potential drivers (and driver talent) available increase? And with that, an opportunity for guys that would otherwise be overlooked have more of a chance?

Right now, the reality is that you need either extensive money, or to win GP2 to get the most likely chance of a drive in F1. Be it an end of season test prize, or a paid drive by Daddy.

With the current testing restrictions, teams opt for more experienced guys that don't have a mainstream future as a WCC driver. ie, Wurz. De La Rosa. Gene. Badoer. Paffet etc to do the very limited and crucial work. Very few youngsters get to test. Should F1 implement an increase in open testing on the condition only rookies can be used?

So with several mid-season tests, a team could try out, for example, 4 or 5 rookie drivers with a decent stint for each. More young drivers could be put through their paces and evaluated, just like in the 90s, where drivers would test a variety of teams to get noticed. Now, teams sign them up from birth almost and are tied to just a few individuals that they develop slowly. They don't risk spreading or opening their choices, but fixate on a select few. That closes the market dramatically, and F1 becomes like a predictable nurturing salmon farm. Teams won't risk a precious day on an unknown driver, but I think they should.

Does F1 need this? Well, whilst GP2 winners do seem to prove somewhat good overall, opening the chance for lesser known GP2 and alike stars could open the doors for all sorts of erratic guys. But then they'd never otherwise get a chance to shine. There could be another inexperienced Kimi out there doing nothing in GP2, but could make waves if given an F1 test.

You just never know.

Food for thought, nonetheless.

Edited by danmills, 14 June 2013 - 10:54.

[Jackmancer]

I think at the moment, what we're seeing with the STR drivers, is that rookies need a whole year to learn and can be judged better in their 2nd year.
It's insane so yes to the topic title.

[Myrvold]

With the current testing restrictions, teams opt for more experienced guys that don't have a mainstream future as a WCC driver. ie, Wurz. De La Rosa. Gene. Badoer. Paffet etc to do the very limited and crucial work. Very few youngsters get to test. Should F1 implement an increase in open testing on the condition only rookies can be used?

Well, when we had the most testing,the test drivers was drivers such as: Olivier Panis, Alex Wurz, Pedro De la Rosa, Marc Genè, Luca Badoer, Ricardo Zonta, Antonio Pizzonia. So it's not like it is anything new. Anthony Davidson was a test driver for ages, and never really got a real shot at F1, so I think things will keep it like it was and is. Sometimes you'll see a Massa, or Alonso come along, but no. I don't think a "only rookie" rule would be a good thing. That would've made it impossible for Massa, Alonso, Liuzzi, Hulkenberg to take a year as a test driver, when they did.

Edited by Myrvold, 14 June 2013 - 13:24.

[EthanM]

Do you think that by having more in-season and winter tests, would the pool of potential drivers (and driver talent) available increase?

Nope. The big teams will still run their race drivers or their long-term test drivers, cause every second the car runs on track it generates valuable data, and they want that data to be consistent, they don't want to waste 1-2 days calibrating the driver and his input. That' why, after all, back when you had unlimited testing you didn't have a bigger driver pool.

Edited by EthanM, 14 June 2013 - 13:36.

[Shiroo]

I think at the moment, what we're seeing with the STR drivers, is that rookies need a whole year to learn and can be judged better in their 2nd year.
It's insane so yes to the topic title.

And some need 3 years to be judged, yet team don't fire them eventho they are mistake-prones and quite slow under pressure (Grosjean)

Edited by Shiroo, 14 June 2013 - 13:56.

[Clatter]

I doubt it will make any real difference. The big teams will still use their race drivers, possibly giving a day or 2 to the test driver. The small teams will sell the seat to the highest bidder.

[rsaca]

Definitely... The jump to a F1 car is huge, just in machinery alone, now imagine the pressure, the 30+ buttons on the steering wheel, adjusting to the raw speed these cars have and getting comfortable with it, and most importantly, having more time understanding the tyres!!!

I don't think you'll get a driver pool improvement as a whole, but I'd suggest you would see the good drivers stand out more easily.

[Fastcake]

I doubt it will make any real difference. The big teams will still use their race drivers, possibly giving a day or 2 to the test driver. The small teams will sell the seat to the highest bidder.

I fully agree. If anything, with the dedicated young drivers test going from next year the number of drivers getting the opportunity will decrease.

[noikeee]

I don't think you'll get more drivers, but rookies/unexperienced guys won't seem so incompetent.

[fabr68]

I think more testing will bring more chances to glance diamonds in the rough over the already chosen and financed coals.

[HaydenFan]

Nope. The big teams will still run their race drivers or their long-term test drivers, cause every second the car runs on track it generates valuable data, and they want that data to be consistent, they don't want to waste 1-2 days calibrating the driver and his input. That' why, after all, back when you had unlimited testing you didn't have a bigger driver pool.

That, and when teams do run young drivers, it separates those drivers who might be ready for F1, and those who are not. Right now it is a gamble. Teams are hiring (or taking money) from drivers who have zero F1 experience of any sort, or only a Young Drivers Test. So in theory, it allows teams to test more people, but at the end of the day, it will provide the already strong F1 grid, with a much stronger selection of drivers.

[Mauseri]

I think more testing improves the position of average F1 drivers to keep their seats against new drivers.

Maybe there could be more in season testing, but that should be allowed only for drivers who did not yet race that year. So race drivers could only do winter testing. That should be enough.

Edited by Mauseri, 15 June 2013 - 05:11.