Red Bull and Ferrari's testing plans change and change again - The regulations force them back with the rest of the pack
Published by Christine
This is F1Minute - Red Bull and Ferrari’s testing plans change and change again.
Ferrari and Red Bull had planned to tweak their testing schedule this week, running their four days in Barcelona one day later than everyone else. Ferrari first confirmed their intention to start Friday and finish on Monday, with Red Bull requesting to join them soon afterwards.
However, both teams have now had to change their plans back again after clarification from the FIA. Article 22.4 of the regulations explicitly states that no testing can occur between the start of the week preceding the first race and the 31st December of the same year - with the mid-season test an exemption to that rule. Red Bull and Ferrari would have been testing on the Monday and that would break the regulation.
This regulation will also affect Marussia, who failed their final crash test and confirmed they would miss the final test. HRT may also be affected if they can’t make it to Barcelona, and Lotus, who pulled out of the last test early, will not be able to recover any lost mileage.
