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Reduced 2020 pre-season testing confirmed, in-season testing dropped

Published on 04 Oct 2019 17:28
3
By: Fergal Walsh

The pre-season testing schedule for the 2020 season has been confirmed, with six days of on-track action to take place instead of eight.

As GPToday.net reported in August, testing will remain at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, which will host the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

The first test for the 2020 cars will begin on February 19th and end on February 21st, before the cars return to the circuit once more on the 26th to the 28th.

In-season testing has also been dropped from the schedule altogether, with the 2019 in-season tests held at Bahrain and Spain following each of the Grand Prix weekends.

2020 F1 pre-season testing schedule

Date	Test	Location
19-21 February	Pre-season test one	Barcelona
26-28 February	Pre-season test two	Barcelona

Formula 1's provisional 2020 calendar was announced in August, which is ste to feature 22 races for the very first time.

New additions to the schedule are Vietnam and The Netherlands, while the German Grand Prix has been dropped.

Provisional 2020 F1 race calendar

Date	Grand Prix	Venue
15 March	Australia	Melbourne
22 March	Bahrain	Sakhir
5 April	Vietnam	Hanoi
19 April	China	Shanghai
3 May	Netherlands	Zandvoort
10 May	Spain	Barcelona
24 May	Monaco	Monaco
7 June	Azerbaijan	Baku
14 June	Canada	Montreal
28 June	France	Le Castellet
5 July	Austria	Spielberg
19 July	Great Britain	Silverstone
2 August	Hungary	Budapest
30 August	Belgium	Spa
6 September	Italy	Monza
20 September	Singapore	Singapore
27 September	Russia	Sochi
11 October	Japan	Suzuka
25 October	United States	Austin
1 November	Mexico City	Mexico City
15 November	Brazil	Sao Paulo
29 November	Abu Dhabi	Abu Dhabi

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

I don't understand this move. Why was this done? To save on costs? I would imagine that it's more expensive to get the design wrong, or have correlation issues in-season, than to spent money upfront to get it all correct.

1
Oct 4 2019 - 19:31

F1 News

Replies (3)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Not quite sure what I feel about it, methinks it'll benefit the richer teams more, which isn't what we need.
- + 0
- Oct 4 2019 - 18:25
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  I don't understand this move. Why was this done? To save on costs? I would imagine that it's more expensive to get the design wrong, or have correlation issues in-season, than to spent money upfront to get it all correct.
  + 1
  
  Oct 4 2019 - 19:31
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Indeed, it was to save costs. Transports are incredibly expensive for the teams, and it does no doubt impact the smaller teams. However, to be unable to develop is, in my book, a greater disadvantage. Ferrari and Merc' both have vast sums at their disposal, they can simulate and simulate as much as they can and can afford extensive testing regimes. For the budget teams, the best data is gotten from the track. I agree with your notion, hence my earlier comment, but I can understand why the shortterm cost-cutting might be tempting.
  + 0
  
  Oct 4 2019 - 19:37