Ferrari unlikely to back test cuts

Although there was hope after Tuesday's breakthrough meeting at Heathrow that Ferrari would join up with the plans to reduce testing by 50 per cent, with the team not having sent a representative to the talks, sources close to the Maranello-based outfit have said that it prefers other ways of reducing costs and improving the show.

Autosport.com understands that Ferrari believes a reduction in testing alone will not have the kind of significant impact on cost cutting that the sport needs - and that the team favours looking at other rules to help cut back on spending and make the racing more exciting. These are believed to revolve around areas of electronics, the weight of cars and other strict technical regulations.

The team, however, would not be against some form of limiting testing - with some suggesting that a reduction to a 36-day limit from the current 48-day maximum would not be completely out of the question.

Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt is currently away on holiday and therefore unavailable for comment over the issues, and the team itself is declining to comment about the matter until the Frenchman returns.

But speaking at the Brazilian Grand Prix where the original proposals to cut testing were first put forward in two meetings, the second of which Ferrari was accidentally not invited to, Todt openly doubted that a simple testing reduction would achieve necessary cost cuts.

He said: "You know we are in favour of reducing costs. If we don't want F1 to die, we have to reduce costs, but drastically not only by identifying for the top teams some less costs on testing.

"Do we need traction control? I'm not sure you need traction control to improve the show in F1. Do we need to have cars where you have to spend a huge amount of money to find ballast - why do you have to find ballast? Because then you make the lightest car possible ever, but then you put the car under the weight limit. It's crazy. You have the spectators out there, they don't have a clue about that and they don't care."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis indicated to autosport.com after Tuesday's Heathrow meeting that even if Ferrari does not back the plans to cut testing, then the nine teams who agreed the proposals will still go ahead with their 24-day limit.

"We will go it alone," he said. "We would like them [Ferrari] to concur with our views on testing but it is intended to go with or without them. We are committed to finding the best economic way forward for the vast majority of the teams."

The hope from rival teams if Ferrari does go ahead and commit to an extended testing programme is that the Italian outfit will face a barrage of criticism for gaining a supposed unfair advantage with the extra running if it continues to dominate the sport.

Ferrari sources suggest, however, that it will not be affected by such a view. "We would not complain if a team like McLaren wins because it has two wind tunnels, so why should anyone complain about us testing," said a source.

A meeting of the Formula 1 Commission has been scheduled for December 9 in Monte Carlo, the day before the next FIA World Council, where it is likely the latest moves to cut costs and improve the show will be discussed at length.