This seems to be the conclusion reached by some of the teams' representatives after talking the matter through at the Portimao group test last month. The only time a team could theoretically try new things on a car or try to improve it by adding or changing something to its aerodynamic package would be on each Friday before the 17 races on schedule. However, with the 8-engine-per-season rule not excepting the Friday practice session, no one would afford risking the life of an engine for testing reasons.
As a result, the F1 teams look set to proposing FIA a change in the testing bane rule for 2009, allowing them to test throughout the upcoming season for at least 3 times. The news is yet to be confirmed by the members of the Formula One Team Association, as it was revealed by Joe Saward's GrandPrix.com.
“It's not in everybody's interest to see only five or six cars finish races, so we're trying to get an agreement on a change of the rules for 2009,” a team member was reported as saying to the aforementioned source.
If not agreed upon, the in-season testing ban will also affect the performances and reliability of the 2010 challengers. Most of the components will have to be developed in-house, but with reduced usage of the very-useful-until-now wind tunnel. So basically no chances of either developing some decent parts in house or test it on track. The only time the new cars would see daylight would be during the next winter testing.
The teams are likely to discuss the rule change within FOTA in the next few days and, if receiving an unanimous vote, the proposal will be forwarded to FIA as soon as possible.
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