Fernando Alonso believes the current restrictions on testing make it impossible for a team to bounce back from a slow start to the season.
This year teams took part in three four-day pre-season tests and two two-day in-season tests, but that is set to be limited to just two four-day pre-season tests in Barcelona next year. Alonso believes it will only serve to lock in the competitive order from the first test and he says he longs for the regular testing teams enjoyed for most of the 2000s.
"Before we had some freedom in terms of testing and improving the car, so if you found your car was not competitive in the first quarter of the season you then planned some solutions and maybe you ended the year in a competitive way," he said. "Now, the Mercedes will win all the races and the Manor will be last at all the races and we have our hands tied for the season.
"So when we go testing in Barcelona or Jerez for the first test, we are tossing a coin in the air and if the car is competitive you will have a good season and if it's not competitive you will have a bad season."
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said his team was against further restrictions on testing for 2016, but there is nothing it can do to stop it going ahead.
"Yes, it is the plan to have only eight days of testing [in 2016]," Boullier said. "We are not necessarily happy with that but it is a decision that has been agreed with a majority a long time ago, so we have to deal with that."