Carlos Sainz Critiques Formula 1 for Testing Restrictions Amidst Sim Racing Dilemma

Spanish rookie of Williams, Carlos Sainz, has criticized Formula 1 for its restrictions on testing.

«The time we have to spend on the track is quite limited. I find this approach to regulations a bit frustrating. We spend all day working on simulators. I believe the rules should be revised to include a separate budget category, allowing teams to decide how to allocate their funds—whether for simulator sessions or on-track car development. Of course, I understand that the reduction in testing was implemented for environmental reasons. However, in reality, drivers are flying almost daily on private jets from Monaco to the UK and back just to work on the simulator. I don’t get this rule. They ban testing, yet teams invest millions in the development of simulators to compensate for it. It would have been reasonable to allocate 10-12 testing days to teams so they could manage them as they see fit,» Sainz told Motorsport Week.