Honda to reject test limit

Amid the controversy of Ferrari declining to go along with the scheme, because it does not believe it will reduce costs and particularly fears its tyre development programme for Bridgestone could be severely compromised by the move, Honda too has its reservations about the move.

Sources close to the Japanese company, which as part-owner of BAR now has a say in what decisions the team takes, indicate that it does not support the 50 per cent reduction in testing and it will not go along with the 24 day limit.

Instead, Honda is believed to welcome a much less dramatic testing limit - with a figure nearer the 30-day mark being suggested as the way forward for next year. The company is particularly keen to conduct as much testing as its believes to be feasible because it is on the verge of a fight for the world championship.

Sources close to the negotiations between the non-Ferrari teams relating to reducing testing claim that BAR boss Nick Fry made his suggestion of a modified limit at this week's team bosses' meeting in London - and that some thought will be given to the increased testing limit.

One insider told autosport.com: "Honda clearly wants to reduce costs in Formula 1 but believes it would be more realistic to not cut back on testing as dramatically as is being suggested by the 24-day limit. I think a compromise may eventually be reached between what they want and what the other teams want."

Ferrari's suggestion of limiting team's testing to 15,000km during the season and a tyre company's testing to 15,000km was rejected outright by the nine other F1 teams earlier this week.