But Don’t expect to see them in Action, until at
least Bahrain…
In all of the hype surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s
arrival at Ferrari, and His total immersion to Scueria Ferrari culture. Read a
good article by Racer’s Chris Medland on Formula One’s Testing Previous Cars (TPC) programme. Hey if
the Bloody Brits’ can Chuck round vernacular such as Vice champion and
Box-box-box George! Then I can Bloody scribble programme, but I digress…
As TPC is designed to allow Formula 1 teams the
ability to go testing in F1 chassis being two years old, with the previous
three seasons machinery allowed. Making 2021-23 F1 chassis eligible for TPC
duty this season.
And thanks to Haas’s new technical alliance
with Toyota, the smallest F1 team on the grid will run its maiden TPC outing
with Toyota’s assistance. Having tested a Haas VF-23 at Jerez recently. Where
race drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman ran one day apiece, with Ritomo
Miyata getting “seat-time” at the end of each day.
As Mercedes joined Haas in Jerez, running one
of its earlier F1 chassis. Presumably the F1 W14 for Kimi Antonelli, with no
word about George Russell.
Reportedly Mercedes has been running the young
Italian whose full name is Andrea Kimi Antonelli in a multitude of older spec
Mercedes machinery in its attempt to get Him properly prepared for His
forthcoming F1 rookie campaign.
Naturally there was much Buzz over Sir Lewis’s
debutante outing in scarlet, when Golden Child’ and Charles Leclerc ran around
Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in Ferrari SF23 and F1 75 racecars. While another
outing for the duo was planned for Barcelona a week later.
While the media reported that Lewis looked like
a Mafia Don on His first day in Maranello. Wearing either a double breasted dark
blue or black suit with gray trench, err overcoat over His shoulders. Uhm,
strike the pose Lewis, Meow!
Hmm, why did visions of Michael Jackson looking
like a “Dandy” in the epic video Billie Jean come flashing into my Head, eh?
I believe that I read that F1 teams are now
allowed only 1000km (Kilometers) or a
paltry 621 miles in “Old Money” as Professor’ Steve Matchett would say. Leading
me to wonder how this exact mileage is monitored?
As teams are required to notify the FIA a
minimum of 72 Hours prior to commencing TPC activities. And provide the chassis
designation, drivers, venue etc. for the FIA Delagate and other competing
Formula 1 teams knowledge of such activities. While I’m guessing this also
allows rival teams to share a race track and “Pool” circuit expenses, if
desired…
Although it sounds like not all ten F1
Constructors carry out extensive TPC programmes, or are required to? As I’m
guessing its just the FIA mandate of running at least two rookies per season
the teams are bound by.
As I understand the mileage, Err kilometers
limit is presumably a cost saving measure. But it seems like a bit more mileage
could be allowed, which in turn gives more opportunity for F1 cars to be raced
around the world. Or even better yet, give Fans a second opportunity to witness
testing during the second half of the season?
Yeah, I know, the season’s already too Gory long! But these TPC tests give the media something more to write about, and give F1 media exposure…
