In the wake of the Mercedes secret tyre test controversy it has emerged that Ferrari has also taken part in private test at the request of Pirelli.
The test took place this year between the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix. Crucially, though, a 2011-spec car was used which had been provided by Ferrari’s Corse Clienti program and not their Formula 1 team. Therefore, Ferrari has not breached any FIA sporting regulations.
“For a bit more of a year there has been a possibility of performing these so-called 1,000 kms tests that Pirelli does for its own tyre development,†a Ferrari spokesman told Speed. “For Ferrari it has always been very clear that these tests could not make use of a 2013 car. In terms of running an old car, the matter is quite irrelevant, because it is totally within the rules.
“This is something that we have never denied; this was very transparent. All the teams have this possibility. The tyres, the specification of the test, is something that Pirelli knows; not us.â€
Previously Pirelli had conducted its testing using a 2010-spec Renault under the watch of the Lotus show car program. It had always kept the teams abreast of its activities, including the distribution of official reports after each test that, in part, confirmed Lotus would not gain any advantage.
Why they have now started going down this secretive test regime with Ferrari and Mercedes, without notifying the other teams is yet to be identified.
[Source: Speed TV | Pic: Ferrari]