Confirmed: Formula 1 testing to be reduced for 22 race season
F1 News
As a result of the 22 race calendar, Formula 1 teams have agreed to reduce the number of tests across the 2020 F1 season. Both in-season and pre-season testing will be reduced to decrease the workload on team members.
According to Motorsport.com, teams have agreed to have six pre-season test days, rather than the current eight. A day will be dropped per week of testing in the build-up to the first race of the season in Australia.
The tests, set to be held in Barcelona, are scheduled for February 19-21 and February 26-28 but a deal is not yet formally signed. The Barcelona in-season test has also been dropped along with the post-Bahrain Grand Prix test.
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said it was an easy decision to make.
"Less testing, we all agreed on it, we all think it's a good idea. If you would have asked 10 years ago doing six days a year was workable, I would say it's impossible. Now it's possible. We've gone from eight days pre-season and four days in-season to six days and no days. We will survive," he said.
However, his driver Romain Grosjean doesn't think it's a good idea. Grosjean, who is head of the GPDA, believes it will help the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
"I don't think that's the right choice, it will again give the advantage to the bigger teams. In-season I can understand. Winter testing, eight days was already very little, and six days is even less, obviously," Grosjean said.