The FIA clarifies the 2013 young driver test rules
The FIA announced that the young driver tests will remain over 3 days and will indeed be open to drivers who have participated in more than two Grand Prix, provided they limit themselves to tire testing on behalf of Pirelli.
Following the British Grand Prix, marked by tire issues, the FIA announced its intention to modify the young driver testing regulations to allow more experienced drivers to participate with the aim of testing the tires.
This measure was recently approved by the World Motor Sport Council. The governing body also clarified that it had not considered the possibility of extending these tests for young drivers from 3 to 4 days, as it explained in a statement:
« The conditions defined in accordance with Article 22.4 (h)(i) of the F1 sporting regulations, and recently amended by the World Motor Sport Council, are as follows:
The trials for young drivers will remain a three-day test session, from July 17 to 19.
Only the 2012 [pneumatic] construction will be used for these tests, but with the 2013 hard, medium, and soft compounds.
The tests will now allow teams to run drivers who have participated in more than two Formula 1 World Championship events, provided the aim is to test tires for Pirelli.
In order to meet this requirement, all teams must ensure that any modifications made to the car during this test are exclusively related to the tire tests defined by the action plan provided by Pirelli.
A FIA observer will be appointed to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Also noteworthy is another novelty for these tests, the possibility for the public to be present. Indeed, fans will be able to go to the Silverstone track to attend these tests. If you wish to go, you can purchase your tickets on the British track’s website.
On the drivers’ side, while some teams are expected to have their regular drivers for these tire tests, that will not be the case for the Marussia team, which has decided to have Tio Ellinas—a member of the Marussia young drivers program—drive on the first day and their reserve driver Rodolfo Gonzalez on the following two days. For other teams, Antonio Felix da Costa is expected to drive for Red Bull, Carlos Sainz Jr. probably for Toro Rosso, and Robin Frijns is also anticipated behind the wheel of the Sauber, although all programs are yet to be confirmed.
