The FIA has specified several details concerning the possibilities of testing for young drivers with cars from previous years by 2025. In fact, several rules are evolving to govern private testing during the year when the new regulations arrive.
Following the World Council, the federation also specified that the 2026 pre-season tests would consist of three three-day sessions, in order to get used to the single-seaters with active aerodynamics and the new engines.
From next season, testing of young drivers will be restricted, and the amount of TPC testing, i.e. with cars at least two years old, will be reduced. The FIA’s objective, however, is that these tests benefit young drivers more than the team starters. Mercedes and Alpine had in fact used this device, respectively for Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Jack Doohan, future starters.
The FIA has decided to limit the TPC to 20 days per year, with a limitation of 1000 kilometers over four days for drivers entered as starters. There is no specific mileage limitation for other drivers.
Furthermore, it will be prohibited to drive on a circuit in the two months preceding a Grand Prix at the same location, to prevent these TPCs from being used to accumulate data for the competition. It will also be prohibited to drive on the circuits listed on the calendar if they have undergone work since the last edition of the Grand Prix.
On the other hand, it will also not be possible to test on tracks which have not been on the calendar for several years. If the route was not on the calendar the previous year, these test sessions cannot take place on it.
