All Teams Except Ferrari Agree to Testing Cuts

All Formula One teams except champions Ferrari agreed on Tuesday to restrict testing during the season to 30 days.

The cost-cutting agreement, signed by the nine team bosses at a meeting in London, limited them to European circuits approved by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Teams will not be able to test at more than one circuit on the same day or with more than two cars. They also remain barred from using circuits that host an event on the calendar, with the exception of Silverstone, Barcelona and Monza.

Ferrari, who have their own track and sometimes test at three circuits on the same day, have not signed the agreement.

"I don't think it's surprising," said Minardi's Paul Stoddart. "We've had enough time to know that Ferrari don't favour this sort of agreement."

There had been fears that Honda-powered BAR, Ferrari's closest rivals last year, would abandon an agreement first mooted at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix in October.

Teams spend far more time testing cars and hugely expensive engines at deserted race tracks than they do in front of fans at races. This year also has more Grands Prix than ever - 19 - and teams are concerned about staff burnout.

"Everyone said (the) Brazil (agreement) would not survive the winter but it has," said Stoddart. "If anything it is actually stronger. At all points Ferrari are invited to participate. If they choose not to do so, that is for their own reasons."