Force India have signalled that they will put their race drivers, Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil, behind the wheel during the Young Driver Test – at least for the majority of the three days.
The FIA confirmed that current drivers would be allowed to take part in the test – which is usually restricted to rookie drivers with less than two Formula 1 starts – following the aftermath of the tyre failures which marred the British Grand Prix.
Deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes it’s best for an experienced driver to test the new tyres, not only because it’s safer, but because they can offer better feedback.
“Yes [our race drivers will run] I think for a number of reasons, not just safety alone,” he told ESPNF1. “The last thing you want to do is to put an untried tyre on to Silverstone with young drivers … I think that it’s important for your own peace of mind as a team, and each team has to make its own decision.
“But it’s quite important for each team to make its own mind up as to how it wants to expose a young driver, and I would feel more comfortable if our race drivers – having got the experience of the previous tyre to this one – were actually the first part of that process.”
The Silverstone based team are however expected to give test driver James Rossiter some time behind the wheel, likely to be Friday, after his British FP1 session was cancelled due to weather.
The test runs from July 24th to 26th and tickets are available through the Silverstone website.
