‘McLaren would back in-season testing’

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McLaren MD Jonathan Neale says he would back a return to in-season testing but only if costs were kept to a minimum…

McLaren MD Jonathan Neale says he would back a return to in-season testing but only if costs were kept to a minimum.

At present, in-season testing is banned, however, FIA President Jean Todt has proposed “a few days of free testing during the season” in order to give young and upcoming drivers an opportunity.

“For me, it is a stupid decision to have no testing during the season,” he said back in May. “In the past it was crazy to have unlimited testing during the year, but to go from unlimited to completely banned, it is not the right measure.

“It doesn’t allow young drivers to test, it doesn’t give the opportunity for young drivers to learn some experience in F1, and I will make sure that this situation will change for the future.”

And although no decision has been made, the matter has been up for debate with Neale saying McLaren would support it.

“Yes, a bit of in-season testing would be good,” he told the official F1 website. “But we must make sure not to undo the good work that we’ve done with resource restrictions, because we’ve cut back for good reasons.

“But I also think that giving some young drivers some time in the car and giving us the opportunity to train mechanics would be good.

“So yes, I would be in favour of having a little bit of in-season testing.”