Vettel calls for changes to testing rules

The German had originally been drafted in by the German car manufacturer to run in one of the Friday sessions at Grands Prix to help learn the tracks ahead of a possible step-up to a race seat in 2008.

But with BMW Sauber being the only front-running team to make use of a third driver, and racers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica unhappy by being forced to miss track action, the team have decided to stand Vettel down for the time being.

That decision has obviously left Vettel disappointed, but he thinks the blame for the situation should be aimed more at the sport's decision makers than BMW Sauber.

"For sure I am disappointed about it, but the criticism lies with the testing regulations," Vettel told autosport.com. "You can ask the others (young test drivers), like Nelsinho (Piquet), who are in the same position - they will feel the same."

Vettel hopes that his situation highlights the problems that young drivers face, and also makes team bosses realise the difficulties they too will have in preparing new drivers for the sport.

When asked whether he thinks the FIA or teams could do more to help, he said: "For this year I don't think so, but for the future I hope so.

"Last year wasn't bad for mileage. Maybe they can perhaps have each team run three cars, but I don't know how feasible that it is with 34 cars on the track together. But hey, why not?

"I don't make the rules, they have experts for that. For the young drivers it's a really bad situation.

"Everybody wants the race drivers to get mileage, but some drivers have been in F1 for several years and they still go testing in Valencia or Barcelona a week before a race."