Drivers are dissatisfied with test days: They want to see this changed

Several drivers have spoken out about F1 test days. They are dissatisfied and want more days to test their cars and collect data.

Currently, there are three official test days before the start of a new Formula 1 season. These three days also have to be shared by two drivers. This means about one and a half days per driver are available to get used to the new car. Previously, there was no limit on the number of test days, but as this was unfair to teams with less money, the number of days was then reduced to 12. The number of days has become less and less with time, much to the disappointment of several F1 drivers.

Mercedes driver George Russell thinks three days is the minimum, but if there are red flags then it is actually too little again. "I think if it's a silky-smooth test, that one and a half days each is just the absolute minimum. But you look at what happened this morning. The drivers who lost out. It is a big disadvantage every single lap you get, it's hugely valuable. The cars are more complex than ever. The tyres are extremely challenging. The cars are becoming more and more sophisticated. It's not like jumping in a Formula 2 car. It's still a very fast car. But they don't have any of the fancy gadgets that Formula 1 does. I'd like to see probably an extra day of testing. Or a second car. One and a half each is just too little."

Williams driver Alexander Albon says that despite Formula 1 trying to make testing fairer, teams with less money are still at a disadvantage. "Yeah, I would agree with the other two. Obviously it's done to try to make it a bit more fair for everyone. At the same time we don't have a test car. So, I know the others, they start testing quite a bit during the winter months. The test yesterday, that's the first time I've driven an F1 car since Abu Dhabi. So, it's not even that fair in the end. Just the money that they spend on the virtual test tracks or the simulations that get put into it. It's a cost cap, but it's also budget going elsewhere. So, I don't think there's really a right solution. But I do think another three days would be nice."

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso also agrees that three days of testing is too little, especially when the full crew and cars are already present in Bahrain for the race the following week. "I think we'll have our full crew here. Maybe all the mechanics are here ready for next week. So, I don't know the extra cost of having both cars here. We race here in five days' time. It's not that we need to go back to Europe and then send the cars back again to Bahrain or something. So, I think we all have two cars ready, more or less. Having two cars in three days or four days should be, I think, the minimum for a professional sport or professional athlete to compete in a world championship."