The ADAC organised a mandatory two-day test at Hockenheim on 9-10 April, giving all teams a chance to get some running under their belts before the opening round of the season at Oschersleben on 27-28 April.
Given that testing has been restricted to a certain number of days this year as part of a plan to rein in costs, the official running should have been a rare chance for teams to gauge their performance against the rest of the field and make further preparations for the new season.
But with Hockenheim not due to host a race until October, and the Balance of Performance still to be set, the teams were unwilling to unleash their true pace in the test.
"This is a complete shitshow," a senior team employee, who did not wish to be named, told Autosport's sister title Motorsport-Total.com.
"We're burning fuel and tyres for nothing, learning nothing at all. Nobody shows what they can do here. Why should they?"
The same team executive believes the ADAC should have given an incentive to teams to show their hand in testing, citing the example of IMSA, where the Roar Before The 24 test also doubles up as qualifying for the Daytona 24 Hours.
"In Daytona, for example, the starting grid is determined during the official test,” he said. “And when something is at stake, you suddenly no longer drive with the handbrake on."
Source: Autosport