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Brawn calls for testing clampdown

Ross Brawn: "Teams have been doing filming days at Idiada - can you explain that one to me?" © Sutton Images

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Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn says the FIA needs to clampdown on testing after suggesting the situation has been getting out of control.

Brawn's Mercedes team was reprimanded and banned from this year's Young Driver Test for carrying out a Pirelli tyre test with a 2013 car following the Spanish Grand Prix. Brawn says he hopes the episode will lead to tighter policing of all the testing regulations and that next year's proposed in-season tests should help matters.

"The FIA are now looking at the whole issue, and not just this particular issue," Brawn told Autosport. "Teams have been doing filming days at Idiada - can you explain that one to me?

"The whole issue of testing has slipped over the years and now needs correcting, and we all need to have a clear picture for the benefit of everyone. The FIA will take this opportunity to rebase all the testing and other activities that teams do, although next year will be a little easier than at the moment as it is anticipated there will be organised full test days."

Speaking to Sky Sports News Brawn added that Mercedes would have preferred to have been able to run at the Young Driver Test this year than carrying out the Pirelli test, but reiterated the teams need to be willing to help the tyre supplier.

"Well I think that in terms of developing the team and developing the car for sure the Young Driver Test is much more valuable. It's three days of proper testing with race tyres that you know, testing whatever parts you want and in our experience it takes you forward. I think do 1000km of tyre testing for Pirelli it's a different league.

"Having said that I think the testing for Pirelli was essential. So if you look at the overall picture I think the Pirelli tyre test was an absolutely vital thing to do because they need the information to give Formula One the tyres we need in the future. So from an individual team perspective the Young Driver Test would be much more attractive, but from a Formula One perspective the teams have to help support the tyre supplier in Formula One more to enable it to do a better job."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.