With the addition of the Mugello test, it now seems the F1 squads are spoiled for choice with the Young Driver Test venues.
The teams have split up in regards to the two locations on offer, with an either or system in place. 10 teams have so far opted to test at the heart of Motorsport, Silverstone, while 2 are jetting off to the Arab Emirites to the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi.
The Silverstone test will be held just after the British Grand Prix, the dates being in mid-July. The Abu Dhabi Young driver test, in contrast, will be held in November. The 2 teams opting for the latter choice are Red Bull and Toro Rosso, who will have the track all to themselves.
The remaining 10 teams will stick to the UK. For many of them their bases are close to the circuit so it cuts transport costs and gives them the opportunity to test earlier on in the season. The Silverstone track is a firm favourite and its mix of different corner styles make it ideal for testing, much the preferred option.
I think this is a great idea, as it gives teams freedom on testing times and also leaves the Red Bull teams with a clear track. They will all benefit from the advantages of the test they decide on, but the details of the sessions have not been finalised so there is still the option to change their mind, never a bad thing.
Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembrey said "We have 12 partners and we have to go along with what the partners want," he said. "Ten of them would appear to want to go to Silverstone, and two of them to Abu Dhabi - so it means we will not be taking any of the new products to the young driver tests. We have found in the past the young driver test is of limited use for a variety of reasons. The teams at the last young driver test were trying a lot of items for next season, and trying new drivers, so while it gave us indicative results, it was of overall very limited value."
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
The Silverstone test will be held just after the British Grand Prix, the dates being in mid-July. The Abu Dhabi Young driver test, in contrast, will be held in November. The 2 teams opting for the latter choice are Red Bull and Toro Rosso, who will have the track all to themselves.
The remaining 10 teams will stick to the UK. For many of them their bases are close to the circuit so it cuts transport costs and gives them the opportunity to test earlier on in the season. The Silverstone track is a firm favourite and its mix of different corner styles make it ideal for testing, much the preferred option.
I think this is a great idea, as it gives teams freedom on testing times and also leaves the Red Bull teams with a clear track. They will all benefit from the advantages of the test they decide on, but the details of the sessions have not been finalised so there is still the option to change their mind, never a bad thing.
Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembrey said "We have 12 partners and we have to go along with what the partners want," he said. "Ten of them would appear to want to go to Silverstone, and two of them to Abu Dhabi - so it means we will not be taking any of the new products to the young driver tests. We have found in the past the young driver test is of limited use for a variety of reasons. The teams at the last young driver test were trying a lot of items for next season, and trying new drivers, so while it gave us indicative results, it was of overall very limited value."
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