Ferrari changes tune on track testing issue

Dec.23 (GMM) Ferrari has changed its tune over the issue of track testing in formula one.

Historically, since the sport drastically cut down on the allowed amount of private and official testing on cost grounds, Ferrari has argued stridently against the new era.

But Maranello is now run by a new president, Fiat-Chrysler's Sergio Marchionne, alongside the former Marlboro executive and new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene.

On Monday as they sat with reporters, it became clear Ferrari's stance about testing has dramatically changed.

"We have talked about it," Marchionne said, "but the tests on the track will not be reintroduced."

Ferrari's new stance might be related to vast investments the team has made since the dawning of the 'no testing' era, for example in the realm of state-of-the-art simulators.

And an all-new facility at Maranello will be opened in mid-January, Germany's Sport Bild revealed.

But Marchionne explained: "The costs associated with this (allowing more free testing) would be detrimental to the already stretched budgets of more than one team.

"Having this kind of activity would only increase the scope of what is already a very serious situation for a number of teams," he added, "in what is a less than encouraging global situation."