FOTA says ‘yes’ to Schumacher test
The Italian team had made the request to the teams alliance, as well as the governing FIA and non-FOTA teams Williams and Force India, so that Schumacher has a chance to acquaint with the Maranello built car prior to his Valencia comeback next month.
"Toyota's understanding is that all FOTA teams have agreed to accept this request," Howett, also president of the Toyota team, is quoted as saying by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"The situation for Felipe is very unfortunate, and this is a sporting gesture which I am confident Ferrari will respect," he added.
It is believed he is referring to the fact that the teams have asked Ferrari to ensure that Schumacher is simply acquainting with the red car, rather than conducting any sort of technical development work.
The Telegraph said the FIA received the approval of some teams, including Red Bull, "with conditions attached".
Ferrari confirmed that the request was made and said it is "waiting for a reply".
Schumacher, 40, lapped Ferrari's Mugello circuit nearly 70 times on Friday, at the wheel of a privately-owned 2007 Ferrari prepared by the team's 'F1 Clienti' division.
"It's a great thing getting back on the track with an F1 even if this was a car from 2007 from the F1 Clienti department with slicks usually used in GP2 and obviously there is no real point of reference," he is quoted as saying by the Ferrari website.
"After a couple of laps I was able to drive constant times and I'm happy with the performance. Now we've got to see how my body and the muscles respond in the next days," Schumacher added.
07/31/09 The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) has agreed with Ferrari's request for Michael Schumacher to test its 2009 car at Mugello over the weekend. Although permission must be granted by the FIA for the run to go ahead, the German has currently run only the 2007 car on Friday.
New-for-2009 testing rules state that no running is allowed on circuits during the season apart from on Grand Prix weekends, although Ferrari discovered a loophole in sporting regulations which allowed its F2007 model to be used by Schumacher in Italy on Friday; whereas last year's car was prepared by Ferrari itself, the double title-winning 2007 version was prepared by F1 Clienti – although this is a workshop essentially owned by the Scuderia, rules state that running the car is not officially classed as a test.
With the target being to reduce weight whilst strengthening the seven-time World Champion's next muscles follow a motorcycling accident in February, the Italian squad wrote to the FIA and all teams with the hope of running the German in 2009's F60 car.
FOTA – with represents all current teams bar Williams and Force India – has accepted this proposal, as vice president of the group John Howett has explained. "I believe all FOTA teams have agreed to accept their request," he told SpeedTV. "The situation for Felipe is very unfortunate and this is a sporting gesture which we are confident Ferrari will respect."