Sauber reject the chance of Friday testing

Testing continues
By Phil Huff
December 16 2002

Sauber Petronas have decided that the team will continue testing according to previous practice in the coming season, rejecting the chance of joining the so-called Suzuka agreement.

As predicted here, Sauber have not taken the option of just 10 days testing through 2003, compensated by running an extra two hours on the Friday of each Grand Prix. With only Minardi definitely going ahead, and Jordan looking likely, it's becoming clear that the required three teams will not commit, bringing to an end the prospect of reduced costs for those teams.

Peter Sauber commented "Although this was not an easy decision, there were no doubts about it in the end. We're currently building an ultra-modern wind tunnel in Hinwil; this is a clear commitment to a forward-looking strategy. Our decision to continue free testing, rather than being limited to ten test days during the season, points in the same direction. This is the only way for us to continually optimise the development of the car in the long term."