F1: FOTA Teams Allow Schu To Test F60

Formula 1

F1: FOTA Teams Allow Schu To Test F60

The FOTA teams have made an unprecedented decision to allow Ferrari to break the testing agreement and let Michael Schumacher have a day’s running in a current F60...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 31, 2009

The FOTA teams have made an unprecedented decision to allow Ferrari to break the testing agreement and let Michael Schumacher have a day’s running in a current F60. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

The FOTA teams have made an unprecedented decision to allow Ferrari to break the testing agreement and let Michael Schumacher have a day’s running in a current F60.

Schumacher is already in action today at Mugello in an obsolete 2007 car, which pictures show is on slick rather than grooved tires. In theory they should be special Bridgestone ‘demo’ tires rather than pukka 2009 racing slicks.In fact a Ferrari spokesperson confirms they are Bridgestone GP2 tires used for demos rather than pukka 2009 F1 slicks.

However as we exclusively revealed earlier Ferrari wrote to the other teams requesting permission for Michael to have a one-day test in the new car. That would allow him to get a feel for slick tires and learn all about KERS and movable front wings before he goes to Valencia, thus giving him a much better chance of making an impact on his first weekend back.

To further complicate matters in addition to the test ban teams have either started or will about to start their mandatory two-week factory shutdowns, and clearly giving Schumacher a test could eat into that time – unless it happens in the next couple of days at Mugello. There is also the possibility of the team using the time to try new parts on the car.

However the FOTA teams have agreed to let the run go ahead.

FOTA Vice-Chairman and Toyota F1 boss John Howett told SPEEDtv.com: ‘I believe all FOTA teams have agreed to accept their request. The situation for Felipe is very unfortunate, and this is a sporting gesture which we are confident Ferrari will respect.’

It’s not known whether Williams and Force India, the two teams currently standing outside FOTA, have also agreed. Unanimity is required if it is to go ahead.

The curious thing is that Ferrari’s letter said that the proposed test was ‘in order to properly evaluate the possibility for his comeback.’

A cynical view might be that his test in the F2007 today would have been more than adequate to judge his fitness and any potential neck problems arising from his February motorbike crash, and that a run in the F60 was therefore not essential.

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