Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test 2012 - 6-8 Nov

[raymondu999]

Today's lineup:

Red Bull: Antonio Felix da Costa
McLaren: Kevin Magnussen/Gary Paffett
Lotus: Nicolas Prost
Sauber: Robin Frijns
Toro Rosso: Luiz Razia
Caterham: Giedo van der Garde


Lineup for the week

Red Bull
Tuesday: António Félix da Costa
Wednesday: António Félix da Costa
Thursday: Robin Frijns

McLaren
Tuesday morning: Kevin Magnussen
Tuesday afternoon: Gary Paffett
Wednesday morning: Gary Paffett
Wednesday afternoon: Kevin Magnussen
Thursday morning: Oliver Turvey
Thursday afternoon: Kevin Magnussen

Lotus
Tuesday: Nicolas Prost
Wednesday: Edoardo Mortara
Thursday: Davide Valsecchi

Sauber
Tuesday: Robin Frijns
Wednesday: Esteban Gutiérrez
Thursday: Esteban Gutiérrez

Toro Rosso
Tuesday: Luiz Razia
Wednesday: Johnny Cecotto Jr.
Thursday: Luiz Razia

Caterham
Tuesday: Giedo van der Garde
Wednesday: Giedo van der Garde
Thursday: Alexander Rossi

Running time:
9am - 5pm
(Local time, GMT +4)

[Cam]

Gary Paffett?! surely they could get some young kid instead, that is kind of the point isn't it? He doesn't need a young driver test, he already is the team F1 Test Driver.

Edit: typo

[raymondu999]

Yes - Gary Paffett. Have you heard of him? Up and coming young talent that boy

Sarcasm aside - Paffett is almost "bred" to be a "young test driver" for McLaren. He'll be there to test new parts, of course - rather than being there to test up and coming young talent. He can be there because of a loophole, that drivers who have started less than 2 Grands Prix are able to be counted as a "young driver" to test.

[Cam]

The fact that he's going to test new parts via a loophole is a give, they probably all will, but to not let some young driver have an opportunity is poor form really.

[raymondu999]

It is - but obviously someone like a Gary Paffett will always have better feel for the car, because he's driven it before, and he knows the baselines to compare against.

[Cold Fussion]

The FIA sure really fix whatever loop hole that allows Garry Paffet to be apart of the test.

[Cam]

That's pretty bad. Why don't the other teams use their 'test driver' then if it's completely acceptable? There is no grey area here, if Paffett can run, why not turf the youth and just have a test day. The whole point is to give new blood a chance. If that new blood tries some new parts, so be it, but the new blood is getting a taste and that's great for the sport.

Technically, McLaren wouldn't be in the 'spirit' of the rules here would they?

[raymondu999]

No, not in the spirit. The test driver has an upper limit of 2 GPs. If they've only started 1 GP, then they can test. But otherwise, no. So Buemi for example won't be able to test for Red Bull, because he's done 2 or more GPs.

[raymondu999]

The FIA sure really fix whatever loop hole that allows Garry Paffet to be apart of the test.

How do you do that without being age-discriminant though?

[Cam]

the FIA need to mandate that a young driver test is for drivers who have never driven a F1 car or have done under X kms. That's the whole point. It's to give the young guys a chance to impress and get a feel for one of these beasts. Surely it's not that difficult to regulate?

Paffett has been in F1 since 2005 (that I can find) - certainly does not qualify for this. Age has nothing to do with it. You can be 80 and still qualify if you've never driven, or had limit running, in an F1 car.

Edit: I've clearly taken umbrage with this Paffett situation. Apologies to Paffett, he's not focus, it's the FIA and the teams for allowing it. It's hard enough to get into F1 without having the governing body going against you too. Again and again, the FIA show a lack of leadership and pathetic regulation governance.

[raymondu999]

X km limit. Why hadn't I thought of that? That would be a good way to solve it IMO

[banibhusan]

I think forbidding drivers who satisfy any of the below criteria should stop the problem:

1. The driver who has started a F1 race.
2. The driver who has taken part in pre-season or mid-season practice sessions (only team's test drivers and race drivers can take part in it).
3. The driver, who is either a team's official race, reserve or test driver.

So the only drivers who remain are those who have either never driven a F1 car before or those who may have participated in a team's friday practice sessions.

[mclaren777]

I really hope Rossi does well and eventually lands himself an F1 drive in the near future.

[Forza]

Yas Marina testing: Day 1

Times so far:
1. Da Costa - RB8 (1:42.717)
2. Magnussen - MP4/27 (1:44.712)
3. Frijns - C31(1:46.911)
3. Razia - STR07 (1:47.728)
4. van der Garde - CT01 (1:48.193).
5. Prost - E20 (no time)

[pob]

Is there any live timing available?