I can't believe it...

expert · 13 Feb 2003, 21:21 (Ref:505778)

Just read this article on "Autosport":
http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=21931&s=5

Now there are teams complaining that Friday testing has an unfair advantage...

If I didn't know any better I'd think they're bloody socialists...

Snrub · 13 Feb 2003, 21:31 (Ref:505793)

That's just stupid of them. Ofcourse it gives the teams who signed up an unfair advantage, but they all had the oportunity to opt in. The big teams are suppose to compensate and then some by testing a lot. I would love to see Renault take out McLaren as a result of this decision.

Valve Bounce · 13 Feb 2003, 21:32 (Ref:505794)

Serves them bloody right. They had a chance to decide which option to follow. Now they can't change.

Sato san · 13 Feb 2003, 21:34 (Ref:505796)

sour grapes...........all team had the option to choose to run extra practice on a friday , maybe it looks like that descion will pay dividends for them , even though they are limited to other the amount of test seesions they can run.

Inigo Montoya · 13 Feb 2003, 21:35 (Ref:505797)

Can't access that site - what does it say???

Valve Bounce · 13 Feb 2003, 21:45 (Ref:505817)

Inigo, you have to register before you can access the Auto sport site. While I don't mind reproducing exerps from F1-Live while giving them credit for the article, I am apprehensive about copying stuff from the Autosport site.

Sato san · 13 Feb 2003, 21:46 (Ref:505818)

here you go Inigo :

Renault, Jordan and Minardi's decision to opt for Friday morning testing has given them an unfair advantage with regards tyre compound choice, according to their rivals, reports Autosport this week.

The FIA, the sport's governing body, is standing by its decision to force teams not participating in the Friday session to pick their compound before scrutineering on Thursday, claiming that the benefit was a trade-off for being limited to just 10 test days during the season.

"The testing on Friday was supposed to be a cost-cutting device," said one team boss, "not a means for Renault to work its way through a lot of different tyre constructions before making its choice mid-morning."

Renault's team boss Flavion Briatore meanwhile is unrepentant pointing out that all the teams had the choice to select the Friday testing option: "We have two hour's testing at the place you race, so for tyre choice it is much better," he said. "A lot of people did not think about doing this because they thought it was for the low budget teams."

**bella** · 13 Feb 2003, 21:56 (Ref:505832)

bunch of whinging girlies

they should have gone for it themselves then shouldn't they. honestly...

Inigo Montoya · 13 Feb 2003, 21:58 (Ref:505836)

Thanks Sato, and thanks VB (I will register next time - didn't realise it was free)... Well, sounds to me like Flabio was just smarter than the rest in this case...

Valve Bounce · 13 Feb 2003, 22:00 (Ref:505844)

I always wondered why Renault opted for this option. I suppose the engine tests can be carried out on the dyno, chassis on the shaker rig and aero resolved in wind tunnels. Maybe there are significant advantages in the friday testing program that most teams did not even consider.

Hugh Jarce · 13 Feb 2003, 22:09 (Ref:505866)

Go Renault!

Always thought there was more to their decision than at first met the eye! The chaps there ain't stupid.

steve nielsen · 13 Feb 2003, 23:24 (Ref:505963)

an unfair advantage??, has'nt it been offered to ALL the teams??

Evilsenna · 13 Feb 2003, 23:47 (Ref:505982)

You also get more time to do a good car setup :-)

Dutton · 14 Feb 2003, 00:03 (Ref:505991)

When was the thing about having to choose your compound prior to Thursday scrutineering decided? Just that I haven't heard of this before. If that was known to be the case before the decision by the teams had to be made, then the teams complaining can go whistle. However, if the tyre choice thing was decided after the deadline for opting into the Friday practice then they do have a fair cause for argument.

Here's hoping that the compound choice thing was known before the opt-in deadline, because then there is no case and it is a case of smaller teams getting a one-up: there is no denying that such things are nice to see. However, I am not convinced it will make a massive difference, except in the midfield where it could.

It should be very interesting to see.

RWC · 14 Feb 2003, 00:10 (Ref:505994)

Dutton is right.It MAY be a case of the fia 'clarifying' the rules--to the three teams advantage.I'm not saying it is but it would be good to know

**Adam43** · 14 Feb 2003, 00:47 (Ref:506024)

Let me get this right. Each team was allowed to chose whether they could have this 'unfair' advantage or not ?

Apexx · 14 Feb 2003, 00:53 (Ref:506027)

No matter what, there should be parody! All teams vote for the type/style of testing. Majority rules!! End of complaints.

Thorstone · 14 Feb 2003, 01:09 (Ref:506032)

F1 team owners are just like a farmer always complaining,

I did register at autosport.com month ago, since then I have got about 50 trash e-mails every day

RaceCarFanatic · 14 Feb 2003, 01:32 (Ref:506037)

The problem the bigger teams have is the tyre choice on thursday most likely. they didn't know they would have to pick their tyre compound on thursday. I'm sure they will figure out something else.

avsfan733 · 14 Feb 2003, 02:43 (Ref:506053)

isn't the point that its an advantage?

Red · 14 Feb 2003, 06:54 (Ref:506136)

Sheese, of course is an advantage. For the GP weekend that is, and certainly not unfair. On the other hand, the rest of the teams are not forced to test only 10 days during the season. That gives them an advantage too. What's bigger? Hmm hard to tell.

bcobbus · 14 Feb 2003, 07:15 (Ref:506146)

While I would like to say that I'm surprised at teams screaming at how unfair Minardi is in their ruthless tactics, I'm not. When I first heard of the complaints I could only laugh and roll my eyes. Such is the state of F1. IF they were not serious, it would be funny!

Valve Bounce · 14 Feb 2003, 07:34 (Ref:506161)

Quote:

Originally posted by Dutton
When was the thing about having to choose your compound prior to Thursday scrutineering decided? Just that I haven't heard of this before.

Me neither. On which day did the tyres type have to be chosen last year? Could someone clarify whether this was a rule inherited from last year?

Red · 14 Feb 2003, 07:42 (Ref:506165)

Prior qualifying session. This year, the driver should nominate which spec he whishes to use before the second qual run. They still have a free session (Jordan, Minardi and Renault have 2) to chose. The first qual session doesn't count. They certainly are not forced to do that on thursdays. Unless Max will have a brilliant idea. Once again...

Glen · 14 Feb 2003, 09:31 (Ref:506230)

Quote:

Originally posted by expert
If I didn't know any better I'd think they're bloody socialists...

What's that supposed to mean?