Todt pushing for limited testing return

Todt believes that the introduction of a total ban on testing during the season from the start of 2009 has been a failure, which is why he is now pushing for a limited amount of running to be allowed.

He has tabled a proposal to allow three lots of two-day testing for discussion at the next meeting of the Formula 1 Commission, which takes place in Valencia on June 23, with the hope that it will be ratified for introduction in 2012.

If, however, teams are not in favour of the change in regulations, then Todt has indicated that he will force it through for 2013 instead.

"For me, it is a stupid decision to have no testing during the season," Todt said during a media briefing in Turkey on Sunday morning.

"In the past it was crazy to have unlimited testing during the year, but to go from unlimited to completely banned, it is not the right measure. It doesn't allow young drivers to test, it doesn't give the opportunity for young drivers to learn some experience in F1, and I will make sure that this situation will change for the future.

"It cannot come back to free testing, but teams now have simulation facilities in the factory, so we are not talking about [a testing ban] being a cost-saving for the big teams.

"So we will push for a few days of free testing during the season as soon as possible but by respecting the rules."

When asked when he thought that was likely to be: "I would have loved to have done it in 2011, but we could not impose it as there was no reason to impose it on safety grounds.

"So, it will be in 2012 if we get enough [support]. It is something that we are going to present at the next Formula 1 Commission which will be on the Thursday in Valencia, and if not then, we can implement it in 2013 without any agreement.

"At the latest it will be 2013, but hopefully people will accept a few days testing during the season from next year on."

Despite his push to change the testing rules, Todt said he was delighted with the early impressions of F1's 2011 regulations.

"I have been watching as much as I can qualifying, free practice and racing on television," he said. "I must say that mainly the last race was amazing. Three things have been introduced - adjustable rear wing, return of KERS and a new tyre. I think the combination of the three has helped tremendously to improve the show.

"I am always very cautious so I would not like to make any conclusion after three races, but if I was back as a team principal I would push my people to try to analyse all that happened.

"I must say I was very impressed with the race and strategy of Mark Webber [in China] because he started 18th and finished third, but he had three new sets of soft tyres. Definitely if you see, he was three seconds quicker [that other cars at times] and if you see the quickest lap time during the race, he was 1.5 seconds quicker than the second one, so it does mean a lot.

"I think really it is a lot to learn, it is a lot to understand and it is fascinating. I just had a short discussion with Stefano Domenicali on how many pitstops they think they need to do.

"Considering the tyres - I must welcome Pirelli because they made very brave decisions when they got into this sharp high-end technical, expertise and business."