P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell and Alex Albon have backed Fernando Alonso’s continued call for an increase to the amount of pre-season testing
In 2023, pre-season testing was cut to just three days from six in 2022, limiting opportunities to run contemporary machinery during the season. With a record-breaking 24 races on the F1 calendar in 2024, teams can only run their current cars at two 200km private filming days per season. Pirelli tyre tests also have restricted running, under strict rules imposed by the sole tyre provider. Winter testing becomes crucial for teams to gather data on their new challengers after investing millions and months in creating these machines. Each of the twenty drivers will only have had a day and a half behind the wheel before the first race weekend due to the one-car restriction at the Bahrain International Circuit. Drivers like Alonso and Russell find the limited testing unfair and suggest the need for more track time to prepare adequately for the World Championship.
