Sauber Opt Out of Friday Testing

The Sauber team have decided to continue testing according to previous practice in the 2003 season, the Swiss outfit announced today.

Formula One teams have been given the chance to drop costly testing programmes, running for an extra two hours at every Grand Prix weekend provided they limit their testing days to 10 during the season. The FIA, Formula One's governing body, demanded at least three teams to vote for the proposal be given the go-ahead.

It was believed that Jordan and Minardi were certain to take up the option and they were thought to be trying to convince Sauber to come on board. However, the Hinwil-based squad have opted out of the new regulation and it now seems unlikely that the proposal will get the green light.

"Although this was not an easy decision, there were no doubts about it in the end," said team boss Peter Sauber in a statement. "We're currently building an ultra-modern wind tunnel in Hinwil; this is a clear commitment to a forward-looking strategy.

"Our decision to continue free testing, rather than being limited to ten test days during the season, points in the same direction. This is the only way for us to continually optimise the development of the car in the long term."