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As the sport's technical demands have grown in recent years, so too has the importance of testing. But with the FIA ever mindful of rising costs, since 2009 teams have been limited to 15,000 test kilometres during a calendar year. Young driver training (one three-day test per year) and promotional events do not count towards this tally.

Testing can only take place at FIA-approved sites and, ahead of a session, teams must inform the governing body of their schedule so that an observer can be appointed if deemed necessary. All cars must be fitted with the standardised, FIA-approved Electronic Control Unit during tests.

From 2009 to 2011, testing during the race season itself was banned (from the week preceding the first Grand Prix to December 31) but from 2012 one three-day test can be carried out during the season, in addition to the established pre-season tests.

Other exceptions to the in-season test restrictions include a small number of straight-line aero tests and one three-day young driver test. There are also restrictions on wind tunnel testing - the scale models used may be no larger than 60 percent and speeds are limited to 50 metres per second.