Yas Marina against the decision to move the Young Drivers tests to Silverstone

The head of the Abu Dhabi F1 circuit has criticized the decision to move the Young Drivers test to Silverstone.

Originally, the test was supposed to be held as usual this year at Yas Marina, the week after the Abu Dhabi GP in mid-November. But, due to calendar congestion at the end of this season, most teams have decided to go to Silverstone in July instead, with only the two Red Bulls racing in Abu Dhabi. Lotus team boss Eric Boullier also described the decision to go to Silverstone as "nonsense", although he said the Enstone team would follow the dictates of the majority of teams. Yas Marina Track Manager Richard Cregan agrees: “If you're a good young driver in the middle of a season, then it's not ideal to test an F1 during the year. These guys should focus on showing their qualities, and that's why the F1 tests in Abu Dhabi worked so well in the past because it was effectively the end of their season."

Cregan also warned that the test at Silverstone means teams may spend more time trying to develop their cars than evaluating the next generation of drivers. “It is first and foremost a test for young drivers and it must remain so” , insisted Cregan. “It's a chance for young talent to maybe get a first chance to drive an F1 car and it's a chance for F1 teams to evaluate his performance. Developing the machine and parts should be secondary factors.” This situation bordering on the grotesque arises from the ban on tests in F1: after the almost total appreciation of the circus for the tests on the Mugello circuit, moving the Young Drivers test to July at Silverstone means using the rookies to test new decisive developments in last part of the season. Cregan explains further: “There is the problem of bad weather at Silverstone and if it rains the tests could return to their original location. What is certain, however, is that those who test at Silverstone will not be able to do so here in November. We continue to be ready, but we'll see who comes.", concluded the French manager.

Lorena Bianchi