Small teams confirm opposition to in-season testing

Bosses of the smaller formula one teams have confirmed they are unlikely to agree to relax the in-season testing ban for 2011.

McLaren and FOTA boss Martin Whitmarsh said this week that while the amount of winter running will be increased to six full tests, the smaller teams are happy with the total lack of in-season testing.

"I personally would like to see more testing but I am respectful of the fact that there are teams still hurting," he said.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said a relaxation of the ban was discussed at a meeting last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, but the small teams are refusing to comply with the wishes of their more powerful rivals.

"Everyone’s in the same boat," said Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer.

"Testing is only an advantage for those who can afford it. So it (the ban) is good for the sport, even if the big teams have to cope with the setbacks in the development process," he added.

Michael Schumacher has scoffed at the current in-season ban by suggesting that formula one is the only major sport in the world that prohibits practice.

Toro Rosso’s Franz Tost hit back: "There is also no other sport in which a test kilometre costs between 700 and 1000 euros."