Carlos Sainz, newly appointed director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, is urging Formula 1 to rethink its restrictive testing policies.
After swapping Ferrari for Williams in 2025, the Spaniard stepped into Sebastian Vettel's former role at the F1 drivers' union. "I had a long time this winter to think," he told reporters.
"I was at home for a few days and the idea came to me. Maybe my time has come. I am 30 now, I have ten years of experience in Formula 1, and I am beginning to understand how this sport works—the combination of driving, FOM and the connection to the FIA, and how I could contribute my experience as a candidate."
Sainz already has proposals, aligning with Fernando Alonso's yearly critique of F1's scant track testing. "As I say every year," Alonso declared in Bahrain last Friday, "we are the only sport in the world who gives its athletes one and a half days each of practice."
Sainz concurs, suggesting a budget-based solution. "Many teams spend huge amounts of money on the simulator, having drivers fly from wherever they are to England to use it," he said.
"I don't understand why we get three days of testing. It's nice to have a joint test, so that should stay, but my suggestion would be to integrate the test days into the budget cap and see what the teams want to spend their money on—testing or the simulator."
