» Green light given to more off-season testing

A meeting of Formula 1 team managers at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix produced one positive result, with an agreement reached for additional winter testing between the end of the 2010 season and the start of the 2011 season.

Germany Auto Motor und Sport has reported that a proposal for 15 days of winter testing – including a 4-day pre-season test at Bahrain – was submitted for consideration.

Outgoing FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh admitted: “We want to make sure that it’s cost effective for the small teams. [Bahrain] hasn’t been quite agreed yet.”

When asked about the prospect for a return to in-season testing – an issue that it contentious for the smaller-financed teams and with the rules restricting such tests to that of a straight-line nature only – Whitmarsh was measured in his response.

“I personally would like to see more testing but I am respectful of the fact that there are teams still hurting,” he said.

“We’ve now got at least six tests in the winter so that’s a step further forward. What we haven’t got at the moment is agreement to test during the season.”

[Original image via Autoblog]