Ferrari question testing restrictions

Until recently, Ferrari tested extensively at their private test track as well as alongside their rivals at the various European circuits. The clamp down on testing, aimed at reducing costs, has resulted in a very limited test programme ahead of the new season with no testing to speak off during the 19 round championship. Ferrari question the wisdom of the current regulations.

“Does it make sense to you that testing is limited to just 15 days and only one car per team at a time and only in February,” the team questions. “The current situation means the drivers stepped out of their cars on 1st November last year and had to wait exactly three months before climbing back in again. In no other sport do participants go this long without doing anything.

“All this at the start of a season which features major rule changes including a ban on refuelling which means cars will be much heavier at the start of races, not to mention the fact that the tyres spring from a new and untried concept, just to mention a couple of the changes.”

Certainly the in-season testing ban hampered the chances of new drivers joining the series last year. Jaime Alguersuari, Romain Grosjean and Luca Badoer all stepped in during the season with no testing behind them and all three struggled mightily.

Heading into the new season, the team all have their 2010 challengers ready for the campaign ahead and while it is hard for the experienced teams, the likes of Virgin and Lotus face a much steeper learning curve.

“Out of the last four days of testing at Jerez, three of them were hit by rain, meaning that out of 32 hours of available track time, only half took place in the dry,” Ferrari continue. “If this theme continues next week, there will be some cars that will have only done a few hundred kilometres of dry running prior to fronting up in Bahrain.”

The team goes on to suggest that while the logistical costs would be greater, testing at Bahrain ahead of the season-opening Grand Prix would be ‘a more intelligent use of funds’.

“Maybe the time has come to rethink this approach and we can be sure the new FIA will quickly be studying the situation, in the interests of safety, spectacle and all those involved in this sport,” Ferrari conclude.