F1 teams prepare for in-season testing at Mugello - Teams prepare for the first mid-season testing since 2008
Published by Christine
This is F1Minute - F1 teams prepare for in-season testing at Mugello.
The first in-season test since 2008 will begin this week in Mugello, with eleven of the twelve teams expected to appear. HRT have already announced that they will not be taking part, preferring to concentrate on their preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix instead.
Force India have admitted that their expected upgrade package may not be quite ready for the testing, with deputy team principal Bob Fernley saying: “We have cleared about 85%... so we are close. Hopefully we can run it for one day, or one and a half days at Mugello, and if it correlates on track to what we have in the wind tunnel then it will be a good car.”
Meanwhile, McLaren have confirmed neither of their race drivers will be attending, leaving the track duties to the test drivers. Ferrari will have both their drivers working on analysis of different exhaust designs, with other car upgrades saved for the final day of the three.
Finally, Pirelli believe this test will signal the start of teams fully understanding the tyres, saying: “From Barcelona on, you will start to see a slightly different and more measured approach.”
