Recently the three-day test week was going on at Bahrain in preparation of the 2024 season, which will start soon. The teams appeared on the track with their new cars and they were just running around the track. Some cars looked more hideous than the others to be fair. Williams finally has their digital dashboard finally on the steering wheel. However, what is exactly the purpose of just one test week prior the new season? I mean there are more and more restrictions in the Formula One it seems. Personally, I have the taste that teams aren’t allowed anymore to improve their cars. It doesn’t make sense to me.
Sure I understand with the costs that there isn’t much testing anymore, I understand some of you are sensitive for environment stuff. However, once the testing in the off-season and even in the season was used to improve the cars. The test was also a good marker for drivers to see where they stood. An opportunity for talent to get their first taste of Formula One. As well the opportunity for drivers with big pockets to gain access to the Formula One. Who doesn’t remember Chanoch Nissany?
A test was something special in the past, while all the teams kept on testing every week, some even having an apart testing department. They were a cheap alternative for Formula One fans to experience the Formula One. See the cars; see the drivers, even in some occasions able to come near the cars. Meet the teams, meet the drivers and meet the paddock. Taste the atmosphere and experience the thrill of Formula One.
What I don’t understand either is based on the costs there seems to be only one ability to test, just days before the start of the season. How did teams like Andrea Moda, AGS, Forti, March F1, Coloni and even Life manage to test before and during the season? Surely, they made costs back then as well. Did life really became that expensive? Did the sport became too complicated to lower the costs?
Sure teams today have 300 people on the payroll while a team like AGS only had 20 people.
Perhaps it embodies the problem the Formula One is struggling with these days. Back then, as already explained, young talent were able to test with the cars. Gain some experience with the Formula One. Sure, there are simulators these days. There are drivers hired to do “development” work on the simulator for the team. Though, I don’t believe that can be the correct way to develop the car.
Perhaps I’m just getting old and I’m stuck in an ideal that doesn’t exist anymore in the Formula One. I wish we could back to the testing days where drivers had the opportunities.
