F1 bosses close to testing agreement

The teams are still discussing how they would like to distribute the testing in 2007, with some preferring more running at the start of the season while others would like it shared out later in the year.

Agreement also has to be reached on specifying which drivers will run on the Friday sessions at Grands Prix, with some outfits wanting only race drivers to do the running and others hoping to be able to run testers or even GP2 racers.

Team boss Frank Williams said: "The biggest problem is getting Ferrari's agreement for something that they will sign. It will give them one or two privileges in exchange for a sensible agreement for everybody else. Maybe we will get that done before Japan."

Honda Racing chief Nick Fry was adamant a deal was close.

"Maybe I am on the miscreants because I haven't had time to get to it, but we will make progress over the next week and make sure that everyone knows our views," he explained. "I don't think it is a big deal at the moment.

"If we can get it agreed before we break up in Brazil it will be advantageous, because then everyone will know where they are. But it could come in Japan."

Williams added that he would fight hard against the idea of forcing teams to run a test driver in the Friday session in a bid to ensure that young stars got their chance in F1.

"It is out of the question," he said. "Who is going to force us to do that? We also need some other clarifications, because some people think you can run your third car, your test car, and I think there is nothing to stop you running it."