While all eyes are on the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari also tested another pair of junior races in Italy yesterday.
Italian Sergio Campana and Canadian Michael Lewis drove a 2009-specification F60 at the Vallelunga circuit.
Campana won the Italian Formula Three championship and Lewis was the best rookie in the series this year. Campana did 43 laps and set a best time of 1’20.600, while Lewis did a quickest time of 1’21.040 in 45 laps.
Ferrari Driver Academy head Luca Baldisserri said: “Our commitment to the youngsters in the Italian F3 will definitely run in 2012.
“Since 2008, we have offered this opportunity to the most deserving drivers from the series, running them in our F1 car, which, if only for a day, gives them a chance to realise their dream of getting close to the world of Ferrari.”
2011 F1 testing
Image © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo
Mike (@mike)
16th November 2011, 11:39
Looks like Ferrari would like an italian.
This youth testing has really been great for F1.
I think with a few tweaks (age limit or F1 mileage limit?) it would be great to see it 3 times a year, or maybe even more!
Teams get testing, youth drivers get a chance, tracks get more exposure, it’s win-win-win.
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
16th November 2011, 11:49
Agreed, and also here it’s actually a case of testing out talented drivers, and giving them an opportunity, rather than hiring out your car to GP2 drivers with a bag of money…
UKFan (@)
16th November 2011, 23:51
I dont agree with you I think not all is great with this new young tests. Teams are making excuses to test new parts rather than benchmarking drivers, this tests are not cheap, some drivers have to bring more than 250k £ to test this cars and in the end all they won was another chance to keep dreaming because I dont think any of the teams are really thinking in signing any of this young drivers.
Leggacy (@leggacy)
16th November 2011, 13:52
Keith, do you know if these two will be racing at the Macau Gp this weekend and will it be on TV?
GeeMac (@geemac)
16th November 2011, 14:18
The thing I’m happiest about is that they kept the car in it’s original livery, none of this changing it to your current livery to keep the sponsors happy nonsense!
PJ (@)
16th November 2011, 14:31
I was so disappointed when Mercedes did that to a Brawn last year…
Victor. (@victor)
16th November 2011, 14:59
I agree. I also think the F60 is a nice car. Much prettier than the 2010/11 cars.
ajokay (@)
16th November 2011, 16:58
Maybe they should have swapped the Bridgestone stickers for Pirelli ones though.
GeeMac (@geemac)
16th November 2011, 19:27
Minor detail….
codesurge (@codesurge)
16th November 2011, 18:46
I wonder if the F60 they used is a customer car under their F1 clienti program, in which case I reckon the owner could request that his car keep its original livery.
Fixy (@)
16th November 2011, 14:53
I was suprised as well, @keithcollantine, to find out his surname is actually Baldisserri, as I always thought it was spelled with one r.
Also,
should be Campana ;)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
16th November 2011, 15:02
Have changed both.
Cryptowillem (@cryptowillem)
16th November 2011, 15:09
Michael Lewis isn’t Canadian, is he? I thought he was American. He’s from California.
F1 98
16th November 2011, 15:38
I thought he was american to
Eggry (@eggry)
16th November 2011, 17:40
You’re right. He’s Californian not Canadian.
Eggry (@eggry)
16th November 2011, 17:40
Michael (Schumacher) Lewis (Hamilton). for sure very powerful and re-mindful name!
Rob Wilson (@rob-wilson)
16th November 2011, 19:36
Seeing these pictures only reminds me how ugly the 2009 cars were. Thank god for development.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
17th November 2011, 13:20
@rob-wilson Seeing them now with longer bodies is such a massive step from 2009. The days of re-fuelling are long gone!
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
17th November 2011, 1:40
Like Mclaren in the future they may try to build a whole Italian team.