Ferrari is not testing its 2021 Formula 1 car at Fiorano today, having indicated it would yesterday.
The team has instead decided to run its 2018-specifiction SF71H in what was originally announced as a four-day test involving three drivers. The team also ran the car at Fiorano last year (pictured).Testing of current cars, including those used in the previous season, is tightly restricted in Formula 1. However teams are allowed to conduct “testing of previous cars”, as defined by the regulations, “using cars which were designed and built in order to comply with the Formula 1 Technical Regulations of any of the three calendar years falling immediately prior to the calendar year preceding the championship.” That would permit cars from 2018, 2019 and 2020 this year.
As the technical rules have been drastically changed for the 2022 F1 season, teams were also expected to be allowed to use their 2021 machines as “previous cars”. However the 2022 regulations have not yet been updated to reflect this.
“While awaiting an update from the FIA as to how rules relating to ‘Test Previous Cars’ which establish the criteria for which cars can be used in this type of test, are being applied for 2022, the decision has been taken to use a 2018 SF71H car,” said Ferrari in a statement. “Further details on the test programme will follow later.”
Test driver Robert Shwartzman was due to run in the car today and Friday, with race drivers Charles Leclerc on Wednesday and Carlos Sainz Jnr on Thursday.
AlphaTauri is also conducting a test today. Pierre Gasly is driving at Imola, using an AT01 of the type the team used in 2020.
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davidhunter13 (@davidhunter13)
25th January 2022, 15:33
I’m curious what the point of these tests are other than just practice for drivers and engineers, do they really help at all with the season to come, especially with such a drastic change in regulations this year??
bosyber (@bosyber)
25th January 2022, 15:41
I think it was stated (according to the motorsport article on this for example, who don’t yet have the addition that the test will now run but with the 2018 car) that it is intended to get the drivers some in-car running; useful to check their neck muscles for example which isn’t really easy to train for apparently.
minnis (@minnis)
25th January 2022, 16:54
I imagine there will be an added benefit that the more they run a car that they know well, the more they can validate their wind tunnel data etc.
amian
25th January 2022, 17:02
There is more to a car than just the car. The garage is full of computers, there’s online and radio communication, and tonnes of all kinds of software is in service where somebody has to understand the generated data and then know how to process it let alone knowing know how operate all of it.
All those engineers need live raw data to work on their methodology and develop their procedures.
You wouldn’t be able to operate a contemporary F1 car from a 1974’s garage. Tthere’s been more technological advancements in the garages than on the cars, which are just the tip of the iceberg.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
25th January 2022, 18:23
@davidhunter13
Ferrari have had a major upgrade with regard to the structure and tools used to develop their cars. For example, they started using a new simulator at the end of last season and were calibrating it in order to be ready for 2022 season. They have tons of issues in past coming from Wind Tunnel, CFD and track correlation. These tests in my opinion are helpful to validate their tools and at the same time their on track procedures which are another area in which they are lagging compared to RBR and Mercedes.
John Platô (@johnplato)
26th January 2022, 12:43
They are most definitely simulating 2022 levels of downforce
Jere (@jerejj)
25th January 2022, 15:47
I was initially surprised until I got to the paragraph about regulations not yet reflecting the relevant update.
Being cautious until knowing for sure is understandable.
AJ
25th January 2022, 19:24
Seems like just a huge ridiculous loophole to do endless expensive testing on all kinds of components and systems.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
25th January 2022, 23:36
I agree with the core issue of your comment, although not so much with the hyperbole.