Mosley would abolish in-season testing

FIA President Max Mosley says that if it were up to him he would only allow testing in the winter but the teams won't agree to it. The ruling recently passed by the FIA to limit drivers to one engine per weekend is aiming at cutting costs and Mosley thinks in-season testing is a waste of money.

"If I could just make up the rules myself, I would abolish testing (during the season) and allow it only in the winter and on the Friday before a grand prix at the specific venues," he said. "But the teams would have to agree on that and, at the moment, they want to carry on testing. As far as I'm concerned, it's money down the drain because all of them are developing their cars and the difference between them stays the same. Perhaps you are two tenths of a second faster but there are millions paid out in vain for that."

Mosley wanted to bring in the one engine per weekend decision next year rather than 2004 but engine manufacturers, who had already resisted efforts to force them to supply to more than one team, were against the early start to the new rule. The FIA President also wanted to axe Friday free practice but that idea was rejected by circuit promoters.

"I would have preferred it if we could have done it for 2003 already but we have to keep the Friday because all the promoters demanded that," said Mosley. "The main point however is that, from 2004, we will race for the whole weekend with one engine. That saves a lot of money."

Under the new rule drivers will still have the choice to change engines but will be demoted ten places down the grid if they do so.