F1: Smedley says early 2016 start is cost blow

Formula 1 teams will make it to the earlier-than-expected start of 2016 testing but there will be "big ramifications" and a financial impact, according to Williams performance chief Rob Smedley.

Last month, the FIA tweaked the calendar to bring the Australian Grand Prix forward to March 20, which in turn meant testing was shifted forward by eight days. As a result, all teams have had to modify their production schedules to ensure they have their new cars ready for the first test's new start date of Feb. 22 at Barcelona.

While Smedley is confident Williams will still be ready on time, the move has forced changes to its production schedule.

"It has an impact, there's no doubt about that," said Smedley. "But we have rejigged all the plans now, we have sat down and looked at an operational plan to get us from this point to the first day of the first test.

"That plan was already done and under way and we've had to redo that. It's just going to be more costly for us. It won't make a difference to when everyone sees the new car or in what state the new car runs or how it runs in the first test or how it runs in Australia – those plans won't change."

Smedley said teams would have to outsource more work or function with fewer components than planned at the opening test to ensure the car still ran on schedule.

"It'll just be more costly to us and all the other teams because you have to rejig your manufacturing plans because you don't want to change your design plans," he said. "You would subcontract some of it out, especially the composites and bodywork.

"We will probably be a little bit shorter on parts in the first test then we would like to be but that is just something we have to live with. You can't magic parts out of the air. We will probably get to first few days with less than operational quantities. The change has big ramifications."

Originally on Autosport.com