Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

F1 bosses close to testing agreement

Formula One team bosses are confident that they will reach an agreement on testing by this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, despite not signing off plans after lengthy talks in China

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."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Buoyant Button looking for Suzuka podium
Next article Honda not planning to change line-up

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe