Ferrari team boss, Fred Vasseur, believes it’s time to revisit the rules surrounding TPC (Testing of Previous Cars). Max Verstappen recently tested the RB18 at Imola in preparation for the Spanish Grand Prix, which is perfectly legal. However, Vasseur questions whether there should be a distinction between test days for rookie drivers and current racers.
Understanding the TPC Program
The TPC program allows Formula 1 teams to test with old cars throughout the season. A team can run laps with cars from previous seasons, provided they are at least two years old. These days are often used for training young drivers. For instance, Andrea Kimi Antonelli recently completed some laps in Mercedes’ W13, while Jack Doohan has already clocked up miles in Alpine’s A522.
Red Bull’s Testing Strategy Questioned
Red Bull recently utilized a test day to put reigning world champion Max Verstappen in the RB18. The aim was to better understand the issues with the current car at Imola. However, Fred Vasseur, the team boss of Ferrari, has raised questions about these tests.
‘Making a Distinction’
Vasseur believes it’s important to differentiate between the various purposes of the TPC program. “There is no difference at the moment,” Vasseur said after the race weekend in Barcelona. “There are TPCs that you can do with your race drivers. These are mainly about developing the car, especially if you schedule them a week before a Grand Prix,” the Frenchman referred to Red Bull’s tests. “I’m not complaining about what they’re doing, because it’s perfectly legal. But it’s not as if they want Max to gain experience on such a Tuesday.”
Vasseur suggests dividing the TPCs into different categories in the future – developing the car and training inexperienced drivers. “I think this needs to be looked at. We should better split it into days that we complete with our drivers, and days that we do with inexperienced drivers.”
