Scuderia Ferrari (finally) begins testing at Fiorano | F1only.fr

Scuderia Ferrari is preparing (finally) to begin its private tests this Wednesday on the Fiorano circuit in Italy after having been forced to postpone the start of these tests due to a regulatory imbroglio concerning the use of old single-seaters.

As a reminder, Ferrari had planned four days of testing at its private Fiorano circuit this week. The two starting drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were due to drive an SF21 from last season, while the Italian team’s new test driver, Robert Shwartzman, was also due to take part in these two-day tests.

However, Ferrari indicated this Tuesday that the single-seater of the 2021 season; the SF21 will ultimately not be used for these test days, in particular because the regulations concerning the use of old single-seaters for private testing are not clear enough. Until this question is clarified, Ferrari will therefore use a 2018 single-seater; the SF71H.

 » Pending an update from the FIA ​​on how the « Test Previous Cars » rules, which establish the criteria for which cars can be used in this type of test, are being applied for 2022, the decision was made to use a 2018 single-seater; the SF71H. Further details on the test program will follow later.. “Said the Maranello team on Tuesday.

This last-minute change forced Ferrari to urgently pull the 2018 single-seater out of the garage and the mechanics are finalizing the preparation of this machine this Wednesday morning to allow Robert Shwartzman to finally begin these private tests.

 » Scuderia Ferrari is set to start a test session which will continue until Friday, having postponed it yesterday. The mechanics are finalizing the preparation of a 2018 SF71H and this afternoon [mercredi], the car will be on track and, in accordance with the initial schedule, it falls to Robert Shwartzman to start the procedure. » tells us the Ferrari team.

 » Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will be in action tomorrow [jeudi]the Spaniard being the first. It was also at the wheel of an SF71H that he completed his first laps in Formula 1 with Ferrari on January 27, 2021. The Monegasque [Leclerc] will drive in the afternoon, while on Friday, Robert [Shwartzman] will be back to close the test. »