Mercedes driver George Russell has suggested that Formula 1 should allow teams to test with two cars in the future so that drivers can accumulate sufficient mileage in their new cars.
F1 testing was reduced from six to three days for 2021, with just three days of testing in Bahrain instead of two three-day tests in Barcelona.
For 2022, winter testing was extended to six days again, a unique concession so teams could have more time to test their new machinery following a major rule change.
But this year, the number of days has been limited to three once again, with testing taking place from Thursday to Saturday this week in Bahrain, home of the 2023 season opener.
This means that each driver will only have a day and a half to get up to speed with the new cars, a figure that Mercedes driver and GPDA president Russell feels is insufficient.
“Personally, I think three days is not enough, because you have to remember from the driver’s perspective, that is one and a half days per driver.
“We were lucky to do [Silverstone filming days] last week, but if we hadn’t, that would have been 12 weeks from the car from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain.
“Can you imagine Rafael Nadal going 12 weeks without hitting a ball and then going straight into the French Open with a day and a half of practice? You know, that would never happen.
Testing was being scaled back to save money and reduce the teams’ workload, but Russell suggested that teams could start testing with two cars so both drivers could have three days under their belts, while still remaining in a single test event.
George Russell, Mercedes W14
Photo by: Mercedes AMG
“I understand and recognize why we do it. I think three days with two cars would probably be a good place to be,” he argued.
“And I think that would probably be the best compromise for all the reasons why we’re trying to limit it, but right now a day and a half per driver I think is too little.”
Fernando Alonso, who has swapped Alpine for Aston Martin, agreed with Russell and claimed the lack of testing could see him and other drivers switch teams compared to his team-mates.
“This year we only have a day and a half of testing in Bahrain, so I’m aware that I won’t be 100% in Bahrain, or in Jeddah, maybe not in Australia. So maybe it’s a bit unfair,” Alonso said. .
“I think this is the only sport in the world where you train for a day and a half and then play in a world championship. There’s no other sport in the world. [that does that].”
