Ferrari, Red Bull testing plan ruled against the rules
So much for any secret sharing by Ferrari and Red Bull after all the other teams have left Barcelona this weekend.
After announcing plans to run from March 2-5 as opposed to March 1-4 like most teams, both Ferrari and Red Bull are having to change course after the FIA told them: Nope.
At issue is an interpretation the the rules. Sound familiar? Apparently, all of a sudden, slipping into the week of March 5, I guess, is being deemed to breech article 22.4 of the regulations, which prohibits testing in the week preceding the first race. I guess Formula 1 calendars begin on Monday? (If you’re still scratching your head, this is being called the week before the Australian Grand Prix, which is on March 18.) Of note, last year, the final test at Bahrain was scheduled for just eight days ahead of the opening grand prix. Both were cancelled due to all the unrest in Bahrain. But that gives you a sense of F1′s consistency here.
BBC Sport is reporting that folks from Ferrari said the change is not a big deal.
But it has to be something of a deal, otherwise why would both teams have wanted that extra day to prepare for the final test?
In loosely tangentially related news, Marussia won’t be making any of the testing. It failed a final safety test of its car. Apparently, it did pass the first 17 but that 18th one was tricky.
Will Marussia make it to Australia? I don’t know. What I do know is Timo Glock is not a happy guy.
