Test pilot, a profession on the verge of disappearing

Test and reserve drivers are victims of the new cost-cutting policy in Formula 1. The economic crisis and the new regulations no longer support reserve drivers, and many have been laid off in this new year. This is the case for Lucas Di Grassi and Marko Asmer among others.

This year, Formula 1 is experiencing a (small) revolution. The cars have a new look, the technical and sporting regulations are completely overhauled, and circuits come and go on the calendar… But as with any revolution, there is a certain price to pay. At the start of this year, it is the drivers who are most affected, particularly the test drivers.

Indeed, the new FIA (International Automobile Federation) regulation has planned a reduction of tests to 30,000 km. With this measure, teams can no longer afford to entrust their development to reserve drivers, who are often young and inexperienced in setting up a Formula 1 car.

BMW recently announced that it has retained only one of its two reserve drivers. Last year, the German team had Austrian Christian Klien under contract, as well as German Marko Asmer. The latter was the first to bear the brunt of the new regulations. He is no longer present in F1.

The case is quite similar at Renault. The French team usually has two or three reserve drivers as well as drivers named in its young driver development program, the Renault Driver Development. This season, the team will only have one test driver: Romain Grosjean. Lucas Di Grassi saw his contract terminated but could secure a seat with the former Honda team, if there is a takeover.

Still in the same vein, Toyota parted ways with the young Japanese Hijate, keeping only Kamui Kobayashi, who is well-positioned to win the GP2 Asia this winter.

Finally, on a more positive note, let’s mention that Ferrari and McLaren have kept their more than experienced reserve drivers.