Ferrari’s request to run Carlos Sainz at next week’s Abu Dhabi test has been denied by the FIA.
Initially, the single-day of running at Yas Marina on December 15 was meant to be only for drivers with less than two Grands Prix of experience, however, last week, the governing body made an exception, allowing any driver who had not raced in Formula 1 this year to take part.
This means Renault can now run two-time world champion and veteran of 311 Grand Prix starts, Fernando Alonso, ahead of his return next season, much to their rivals behest.
So in response, Ferrari asked permission to run Sainz, as drivers changing teams the following year have traditionally been allowed to get some early experience with their new colleagues.
“First, we do respect the fact it was a day meant for the young drivers,” said Ferrari’s sporting director Laurent Mekies last weekend.
“We are investing, as Ferrari, a huge amount of energy and time on our young drivers. We will have three or four young drivers running at the young drivers test. We think it should be the priority for the test.
“If for a combination of factors which is not for me to comment, it’s been decided to give exceptions to a few drivers including Fernando, it would probably make sense to open up the regulations so that people who want to [run] next year’s drivers can do it.
“I think it would be a common-sense approach. I think it should be a young driver test only, but if for whatever reason we are now in the position it is not going to be that because of two, three or four exceptions, then I think we should probably have a practical approach and in that case, we would be happy to bring Carlos in.”
But in a memo to teams on Tuesday, Motorsport.com claim FIA race director Michael Masi maintained drivers who have raced in more than two races this season will not be allowed.
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Before the clarification, Sainz’s current employer McLaren questioned why the Spaniard should be allowed to participate.
“First of all we never speak in public about the details of our contracts with our drivers,” commented team boss Andreas Seidl. “But the regulations are clear so I don’t see any way that Carlos is driving the car.
“There is no room for him to drive for Ferrari because unfortunately for him the rules do not allow. It’s a young driver test.
“I only know what the rules are saying and in the end, if someone decides it’s different, there’s nothing I can do against it, so that’s why there’s no point wasting any more valuable energy we need.
“It’s more a matter of principle, the entire discussion. It’s not about Fernando driving or not, and again I focus on what we can influence here at McLaren, and that’s becoming a better team and beating the competitors on track.”
