Testing calendar & rules 2008

next year there'll be:

- 5 pre-season sessions

- 8 sessions during the season (each starts on wednesdays leaving at least two days relaxing for drivers after races)

- 3 post-season sessions

AND

- teams can allocate 4 futher days for rookie-tests. everyone is a rookie who did not drive (race or test) more than 4 days in an F1 car during the last 24 months according to the new rule.

2008.01.14. – 2008.01.16.
Jerez, Spain

2008.01.22. – 2008.01.24.
Valencia, Spain

2008.02.01. – 2008.02.03.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.02.12. – 2008.02.14.
Jerez, Spain

2008.02.25. – 2008.02.27.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.04.14. – 2008.04.16.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.05.14. – 2008.05.16.
Le Castellet, France

2008.06.11. – 2008.06.13.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.06.25. – 2008.06.27.
Silverstone, England

2008.07.09. – 2008.07.11.
Hockenheim, Germany

2008.07.23. – 2008.07.25.
Jerez, Spain

2008.08.27. – 2008.08.29.
Monza, Italy

2008.09.17. – 2008.09.19.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.11.18. – 2008.11.20.
Barcelona, Spain

2008.12.11. – 2008.12.13.
Jerez, Spain

2008.12.15. – 2008.12.17.
Jerez, Spain

Theyre still testing at some of the venues theyre going to race at though. Although its the "safe" option, its also going to continue giving boring races even when they figure out how to make the cars able to overtake. Maybe they should do something similar to the Spa testing this year, by having a significant period between the test and the race so the teams have a chance to change their relative performance.

I hope they replace some of the tests at racing venues with a trip to Nardo (with their "Nurburgring" circuit) or somewhere like that - or even places like Valleunga or Mantorp or Mugello ... just not places where they race. Barcelona is a boring track as it is, just don't make it worse by testing it to death!

I like what NASCAR do with testing where they aren't allowed to test at tracks which are part of the series that they are in. However that could affect a lot of the English teams due to the noise restrictions that apply to the tracks that aren't Silverstone.

I like what NASCAR do with testing where they aren't allowed to test at tracks which are part of the series that they are in. However that could affect a lot of the English teams due to the noise restrictions that apply to the tracks that aren't Silverstone.

Here's a suggestion - private testing will be totally banned, and the FIA will organise the test days.

Here's a suggestion - private testing will be totally banned, and the FIA will organise the test days.

FIA statement: Testing will only take place at Fiorano and Muggelo.Only cars that are red and whose name begins with the letter 'F' will be allowed to take part.

Cue lots of red paint jobs and entries from Fwilliams, Fhonda and co... ;)

Cue lots of red paint jobs and entries from Fwilliams, Fhonda and co... ;)


Ah,but you forget that Ferrari own both Fiorano and Muggelo.:)

I don't like the plan that they test on GP tracks just before the race events. I would keep pre-season as it is, but once the season starts, ban on testing on GP circuits until the race is gone. So they could hold testing session at Silverstone for example, once British GP has been driven that year.


But rookie tests are certainly good idea. So teams won't lose testing days so much if they just want to test a driver.

yea i also like the addition of rookie tests, and it was absolutely called for.

i just thought they coulda been a bit more generous with it, like 6 or 8 days. i mean an f1 driver drives a minimum of 60 days a year, it would be kinda sensible if a rookie could get the 10% of it just for understanding the car, the tires, the different strategies (and do some development along the way). Piquet for instance is probably the top talent (or one of them anyway) outside F1 at the moment, he was 3rd and res with the world champion team and even he got ridiculously little time in the car

I think rather than having mid-season tests, they should make Friday or Monday a test session. It would save the teams alot of money, surely?

I think rather than having mid-season tests, they should make Friday or Monday a test session. It would save the teams alot of money, surely?

I agree, that would be a good approach.

Run Friday as a testing/free practice day , basically 10pm until any circuit curfew/dark with the exception of a 90 minute lunch break for all concerned.

Have two one hour quali sessions on Saturday morning and run Quali a little later (3pm?) on Saturday, race of course on Sunday. And for some tracks run Monday and possibly even Tuesdays as test days.

Yeah its a simple change that could go a long way. However, as I've come to learn, nothing is simple when it comes to Formula One. They always have to go through the most radical proposals first, before coming to a decision 8 years later, by which time all the independant teams will have gone out of business, and we'll have a grid consisting of McLaren(or Team Mercedes by this time.. probably), Ferrari, Renault, Honda, Toyota and BMW, each with their own B-Team :(

I agree about running quali later, I think the same should happen for the race. Its something thats always baffled me with racing, why the races are run at noon. It would be better for the fans attending the race if they were at 3 or 4pm imo, so they wouldn't have to get up at 2am to make it to the circuit on time (depending where they live, obviously).

The problem with dedicating all of Friday as a test session is you hang any support categories out in the cold. They need an hour or so of their own time for preparations on track. Monday you wouldnt have a problem with that obviously.

The majority of races start at 2pm anyway, not at noon. Qualy too is usually at 2pm.