Carlos Sainz has voiced his dissatisfaction with the current Formula 1 testing rules, describing them as “a bit upsetting.” The Williams driver has had to contend with a mere day and a half of running to familiarize himself with the FW47 ahead of his first race. The restrictions, which limit teams to three days of collective testing to be divided among their race drivers, have left Sainz feeling somewhat underprepared.
The testing regulations also limit teams to running their current cars in pre-season testing and two filming days, with a cap of 200km of running per day. This equates to around 37 laps of the Bahrain International Circuit. Sainz, who was recently appointed as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, insists his concerns are personal rather than political.
The Spanish driver expressed his concerns during the FIA drivers’ press conference, where he shared the stage with four of the 2025 rookies. Sainz empathizes with the new drivers, understanding that they too may feel frustrated by the limited testing. He acknowledged that even though some rookies, like Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, have spent considerable time Testing Previous Cars (TPC), it’s not an adequate substitute for the real experience.
Sainz expressed his belief that experience gained on the track, with the car a driver will be racing that year, is invaluable. He also suggested a potential resolution to the testing woes: maintaining the collective test as it is but permitting teams to have more private test days in lieu of simulator days. Presently, there is no limit on simulator days as long as teams stay within F1’s $140.4million budget cap.
Sainz conveyed his frustration with the rule, pointing out that drivers spend extensive time in the simulator. He proposed a budget cap system that could allow teams to choose between simulator running or testing, thus enabling them to decide where to allocate their budget. The Williams driver also questioned the environmental reasoning behind the testing limit, given that drivers frequently fly privately to the UK and Monaco for simulator sessions.
Beyond these proposals, Sainz suggested further changes to enhance the sport’s appeal. He advocated for transparency regarding fuel levels during testing and called for teams to disclose their engine modes. The Spanish driver believes that such measures would not only make the sport more comprehensible for fans but also address the current imbalance between simulator sessions and actual driving.
The media’s interaction with Sainz was cut short before the new GPDA director could detail more of his vision for a reformed F1. Nonetheless, his concerns and suggestions promise to spark discussions and potentially usher in changes to the sport’s testing rules.
