All you need to know about TPC in F1

Romain Grosjean will make his Formula 1 return when he conducts a Testing of Previous Cars programme with former team Haas at Mugello.

The test is lined up for Friday at the Italian circuit and it will be the 39-year-old’s first time driving F1 machinery since the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.

It is well documented what happened in that race: Grosjean crashed through the barrier at 67G and it instantly burst into flames leaving the then Haas driver trapped inside for 28 seconds.

Thanks to the halo and other safety advances, Grosjean left with only burns to his hands but the injuries were enough to rule him out for the remaining two rounds of the 2020 campaign.

That meant the end of his F1 career, given the Frenchman was already set to leave and only until now had the opportunity to drive another F1 car. 

So here is all to know about the kind of test that Grosjean will be partaking in.

What is a TPC in F1?

TPC stands for Testing of Previous Cars and it allows F1 teams to overcome the restrictions of how much testing is allowed.

In 2025, for example, there were three days of pre-season testing where teams could trial their new car for the upcoming year. The only other opportunity to test current machinery comes through filming days, but teams are restricted to no more than 200km of running on Pirelli show tyres.

These testing restrictions have come in over recent years to control costs and thus try to maintain a level playing field as before there was no limit. 

So this is where TPC programmes are vital. TPC allows F1 teams to complete up to 20 days of running in a car that is at least two years old, with Grosjean set to drive the 2023 Haas F1 car.

That was driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in a poor season for Haas, who finished bottom of the championship with 12 points – while Grosjean contested IndyCar that year.

TPC officially entered the sporting regulations in the 2010s and is something all teams partake in throughout the year.

What are the benefits to F1 teams conducting TPC programmes?

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Davide Cavazza

There are several benefits to F1 teams conducting TPC programmes, with the main one being that it allows squads to get back up to speed – particularly early on in the year. 

When teams return from the off-season, drivers plus staff members can understandably be a bit rusty, so completing a TPC is an easy way to switch minds back on, build cohesion and maintain race sharpness. It is also a handy way of integrating drivers with their new colleagues – and vice-versa – should they have switched teams.

Lewis Hamilton, for example, drove the SF-23 in January after joining Ferrari for the 2025 campaign. It allowed him to complete tests, meet his new engineers, Ferrari management and the tifosi to prepare for the upcoming year. 

It can also be handy for a team like Cadillac, which is set to enter the championship in 2026. The American outfit has revealed that it plans to conduct such a test and although it obviously does not have its own old car to use, team boss Graeme Lowdon revealed it will receive help from a rival. That rival is likely to be Ferrari given Cadillac will use the Italian marque’s power units. 

TPC is also a handy way of providing track time to younger drivers, who may be part of a team’s academy. It is a good opportunity for them to impress in the hope of one day landing an F1 drive, and in return teams collect data that’s not only on the driver but also the respective tracks or car.

Are there any restrictions around TPC in F1?

Power unit Ferrari

There are various restrictions around TPC programmes, as per Article 10.2 of the sporting regulations. The car must be at least two years old and only one car can be used in the day. So, using Grosjean as an example, the VF-23 has been nominated meaning the Frenchman cannot also drive a different Haas car on the day.

Restrictions also surround the type of track used, as the FIA states it must be a Grade 1 circuit – which is also a basic requirement for a track to join the F1 calendar.

That essentially means any circuit used for TPC may already be on the F1 schedule, so because of that, teams are not allowed to use a track that is set to host a grand prix in the coming 60 days. Included within the regulations is also the prospect of a third party joining, as per Cadillac above, so for a team to use help from a rival it must be approved by the FIA.

Other restrictions include the amount of running that can be completed. New-for-2025, teams are given a maximum of 20 days but only four of those can be given to their current, full-time drivers. They are also not allowed to exceed 1000km of running in total. 

This change was implemented in response to Max Verstappen testing a two-year old Red Bull F1 car at Imola to get a clearer development path. McLaren also raised eyebrows when it completed an intensive programme with its current drivers.

Further changes are coming for 2026 given half the teams are switching power unit suppliers for the new regulations. It raised the question of how these squads can conduct TPC programmes, so the FIA has mandated that for the next two seasons, engine suppliers with expiring contracts must still make current power units available for former customer outfits. 

But the governing body has not imposed any budget restrictions, meaning suppliers are free to set the cost themselves. It is believed that this will inflate prices but given TPC programmes are not part of the budget cap, it will not come at the expense of a team’s development path.