De La Rosa slams F1 testing ban

Pedro De la Rosa has described as “ridiculous” the ban on in-season testing in Formula One this year, believing it may prove dangerous.

Motor sport’s world governing body, the FIA, in December opted to impose a ban on testing throughout a season as part of their cost-cutting measures.

That means once the final test in Barcelona comes to a close later this month, just prior to the season-opening race in Australia, the team’s test drivers will effectively become redundant for the rest of the year.

McLaren tester De la Rosa believes that will pose problems should he, or any other driver, suddenly be drafted in as a replacement.

After testing at Jerez yesterday, De la Rosa said: “I’m hoping I can test again in the next few weeks because to me it’s very important to arrive in Melbourne with as many miles as possible.

“Otherwise, the situation for a reserve driver is ridiculous.

“Arriving in Melbourne with very little mileage done, or not having a single day of testing during the season, makes the test driver rusty in case we have to climb into the car.

“We could be a problem, with regard to safety, if we haven’t driven enough.”