RED BULL TEAM principal Christian Horner has questioned the logic of this week’s mid-season test at the Mugello circuit in Italy.
With four of the Formula One season’s 20 races completed, this week is intended to offer teams an opportunity to rectify long-running technical problems.
For Horner, however, the Mugello experience has yet to prove its worth.
“When you look at the cost of running here, we will have done three times the mileage of a grand prix weekend. In many respects, would it have been better to have another grand prix weekend than to go testing [sic]?
“The season is gruelling for the guys and we disbanded test teams some while ago. Mugello is a great venue, a lovely track and the drivers enjoy it, but… is it right to be testing in-season? If you look at the focus on cost saving, this test hasn’t achieved that for any team.”
The Briton has been joined in criticising the process by Lotus team principal Eric Boullier. The former aeronautical engineer believes mid-season testing rewards teams who have been less diligent in their pre-season preparation.
“In general we are not in favour of this,” Boullier said. “We would prefer to have had all the testing in February, like last year, but it depends on your position, I’m sure some teams will vote in favour because they need track time to develop their car faster, but the teams with good cars don’t need it.”
The Formula One cohort returns to racing at next week’s Spanish Grand Prix, the first fixture of the season’s European leg.
