F1 Teams Block Ferrari Testing

The F1 teams from Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Williams have moved to block Michael Schumacher’s bid to test Ferrari’s 2009 car ahead of his return to the sport.

Ferrari had written to the other nine teams and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, asking for the German to be granted a day at the wheel of the F60.

But three teams insisted in-season circuit testing must remain strictly prohibited, as FIA rules dictate.

Schumacher will replace Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix on 23rd August.
The 40-year-old Schumacher, who is standing in after Massa was seriously injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, began his preparations by driving a 2007 Ferrari at the team’s Mugello test track.

However in-season testing with this season’s cars is banned under current regulations.

Five members of the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) – McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP – were, given the circumstances, prepared to overlook that and give Schumacher and his Italian team the green light.

Ferrari have said the German, who won a record 91 Grands Prix in a 15-year career, will stand in for Massa until the Brazilian is fit enough to make a return after suffering a fractured skull in an accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Williams say seven-time world champion Schumacher should not be given special dispensation, citing the recent arrival of 19-year-old rookie Jaime Alguersuari into F1 when he replaced Sebastien Bourdais for Toro Rosso.

‘While we welcome Michael Schumacher back to F1, the fact is any form of in-season circuit testing is strictly prohibited, a regulation clearly laid out by the FIA and adhered to by all of the teams,’ said Williams in a statement.

‘It was for this reason Alguersuari, who drove an F1 car for the first time in Hungary, did not have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso before he made his race debut.

‘Williams sees no distinction between Alguersuari’s situation and Schumacher’s and feels any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future.’

Williams also pointed out that Ferrari chose Schumacher over current test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene, who have both tested the team’s 2009 model.