F1 Teams Set for Testing Take-Up

Formula One's cash-strapped teams are set to take up the option of testing cut-backs next season - and the decision could be announced after Friday's FIA World Council meeting in Monte Carlo.

The teams have been given the chance to drop costly testing programmes and run for an extra two hours at every race weekend instead but the governing body has demanded three teams must vote for the proposal for it to be given the go-ahead.

It is understood, however, that team bosses Eddie Jordan (Jordan) and Paul Stoddart (Minardi) are both certain to take up the option, which will save millions of dollars, and they are thought to have convinced Sauber to come on board.

The Swiss Sauber team buy the engine and transmission for their cars from World Champions Ferrari and, because of the Italian team's successful World Championship year, they are thought to be paying an increased sum for the deal.

One Formula One insider said: "I am sure they will take up the testing option. I understand that, as you would expect, the rate card for their engines has gone up and they need to save the money."

Renault refused to comment on speculation that they are planning to ditch their testing programme in favour of the weekend running but it is thought unlikely because the move is expected to only help teams who want to save money.

There is no substitute the thousands of hours of testing the teams currently do, and although Jaguar have also been linked with a plan to side with the smaller teams, an insider at the team insisted they will not opt out of testing.

Those teams who do not subscribe to the testing plan will not be allowed extra running during a Grand Prix weekend but will be free to test all year. An FIA spokesperson refused to comment on the current response, but said a decision could be revealed on Friday.