Testing Changes for 2001

Formula One team bosses have agreed to limit pre-race testing allowed next year, following a meeting at Monza last weekend.

Currently, teams are not allowed to test at any circuits hosting a Grand Prix except for Barcelona, Magny-Cours, Monza and Silverstone. This will still remain the case, but testing on these circuits will be banned for four weeks before the event held at that track.

This change should increase the action during Friday practice, as multi day tests a week before the race have seen most teams do minimal running on Friday to save tyres for the rest of the weekend, with all their track knowledge gained from the test the previous week. Two extra sets of tyres will be available to the drivers, although at the end of Friday three sets will have to be handed back.

Another change for next season is a three week break in August with no testing or racing, allowing drivers and team members to take a summer break.

Other ideas that were considered included making qualifying an aggregate of Friday and Saturday times, and scrapping Fridays to make a two day Grand Prix, however these ideas were dismissed, at least for 2001.