Carlos Sainz Pitches Testing Overhaul For F1

Carlos Sainz, fresh off his Ferrari-to-Williams swap, is shaking up the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association as its new director—replacing Sebastian Vettel—and he’s got a fix for F1’s stingy testing rules.

“I had a long time this winter to think,” Sainz said. “I was at home for a few days and the idea came to me. Maybe my time has come. I am 30 now, I have ten years of experience in Formula 1, and I am beginning to understand how this sport works – the combination of driving, FOM and the connection to the FIA, and how I could contribute my experience as a candidate.”

He’s backing Fernando Alonso’s yearly rant. “As I say every year,” Alonso declared in Bahrain, “we are the only sport in the world who gives its athletes one and a half days each of practice.”

Sainz’s plan? Fold testing into the budget cap. “Many teams spend huge amounts of money on the simulator, having drivers fly from wherever they are to England to use it,” he said.

“I don’t understand why we get three days of testing. It’s nice to have a joint test, so that should stay, but my suggestion would be to integrate the test days into the budget cap and see what the teams want to spend their money on – testing or the simulator.”