That measure was taken in order to reduce the costs prior to the beginning of the season, as teams would not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for glittering locations or complex media events. However, according to a recent report from the GMM news agency, it seems the F1 teams are prepared to take this cost-cutting approach to the next level in 2010.
Most of them seem well prepared to share the costs of their 2010 car launches for an event that will take place in the same day, at the same complex. We're talking about the ultra-modern Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias (City of the Arts and Sciences) complex, located in the city of Valencia, where teams would find a way to showcase their cars & drivers for the upcoming campaign during the same day of January 30.
We're still not sure how the teams will share the stage inside the complex and how the media will have access to their stands in the same day – prior scheduling will most likely be in place in order for the reporters to have access to all launches equally – as it is only Toro Rosso who announced their car launch on that particular date.
Race driver Sebastien Buemi was the first to confirm that the team's 2010 car will be showcased on January 30 at the aforementioned location, but several other teams are expected to follow. The time and place of the event – if confirmed by any other team – are well adjusted to the first group-test of the 2010 pre-season.
According to the FIA calendar, the first time all teams are scheduled to test their 2010 machineries will be two days later – February 1st – at the Valencia based circuit Ricardo Tormo. Plenty of time for the teams to pack their bags and take their car from the city to the circuit for their maiden test of the year.
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