Ferrari signs up Gene

"When I saw myself dressed in red," Gene told his website, "I felt it was incredible, but tomorrow I will drive a Ferrari at Barcelona and it's fantanstic.

"I have had an intensive afternoon with the new team, making the seat and meeting all the new members of the team."

Gene's signature on a Ferrari contract will come as a blow to its rival Williams as the Spaniard takes with him a large databank of knowledge of the ultra-powerful BMW P84 engine and the team's Michelin tyres.

Gene was held in high regard by Williams for his testing abilities but his relationship with team turned sour after he failed to record strong results while standing in for Ralf Schumacher in the French and British Grands Prix this year.

The Spaniard will work alongside his former Minardi team-mate Luca Badoer in Ferrari's testing programme, which shows no signs of being cutback. Ferrari is at odds with F1's nine other teams over a proposed reduction in testing, which the Italian team opposes.