Todt to propose Friday practice for testers only

Jean Todt will propose a radical tweak to the formula one race weekend format for 2012.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat said the FIA president wants the change to benefit test and reserve drivers - particularly up-and-coming ones - amid the sport’s current clampdown on in-season testing.

Todt’s proposal will be in addition to one in-season test to take place in 2012, with the teams said to have agreed to run a multi-day programme at Mugello before the start of the European season in May.

And Todt’s plan is to revise the current format of Friday’s free practice schedule in order to include mandatory running for test drivers.

The Frenchman wants the current three hours of practice to be split next year into three 60-minute sessions, with the opening morning session dedicated to test drivers.

Rumours about teams’ likely morning lineups for 2012 is already emerging, with McLaren considering Gary Paffett and Ferrari likely to run Jules Bianchi.

Meanwhile, Italiaracing reports that Mercedes will use 22-year-old German Christian Vietoris, who drives for the German marque in DTM.