F1 teams practicing take offs?..

I'm not sure if it has to do with wind tunnel testing limitations but all of a sudden testing F1 cars on airport runways has become the "it" thing to do. Mclaren did "secret" high speed straight line testing at the Aeroclub on the island of Minorca in the past. Ferrari is there this week.

Maybe they are just practicing on a reproduction of Top Gear's airstrip circuit so that they can beat the Stig next time!