FIA's F1 News Round-Up

News round up from the teams, provided by the FIA Media Office

Ferrari: Tests in Spain and Italy

Ferrari is working hard on its new wind tunnel and the engine test beds. The new car will probably be launched at the end of February and, like last year, it is possible that the team will start the new season with the F2002. Ross Brawn has recovered from his back problems and is now back at work. The Scuderia will be testing on two fronts before the end of the season, starting in Barcelona on 26 November with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello mainly tyre testing. Later they will run in Jerez and Barcelona. Test driver Luca Badoer will run at Fiorano and Mugello, testing mechanical and electronic components for the new car. Ferrari is not commenting on the subject of a second test driver.

Williams: New Drivers to be Assessed

The BMW Williams team will test Giorgio Pantano and Vitantonio Liuzzi at Valencia from 26 November for a three day assessment as part of the team's commitment to develop young driving talent. Pantano (23) was runner-up in the 2002 FIA Formula 3000 International Championship and Liuzzi (21), a former karting world champion, has just completed a season in the German F3 championship. Williams will be there for five days.

Their schedule is for Juan Pablo Montoya, Marc Gene and Pantano to run on 26 November, after which the schedule runs 27th (Montoya, Gene, Pantano (am)/Liuzzi(pm)); 28th (Montoya, Gene and Liuzzi) then 29-30 (Gene). The programme will also include more testing of the new type P83 BMW V10 engine which has covered 1289km in the FW24 test car. The team will run from 3-5 December at Barcelona during the course of which Nico Rosberg, son of the 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, will be given a run.

McLaren: Tests Planned at Valencia

The McLaren Mercedes team is expected to start testing with two cars at Spain's Valencia circuit on 26 November, one being an interim test car with the revised transmission and rear-end package which will be evolved into the definitive MP4/17D which David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen will race in the Australian Grand Prix next March. The second car used during the tests will be a standard-spec MP4/17. The team is expected to continue testing at Jerez during December. Raikkonen and Alex Wurz will drive on 26-27 November followed by Raikkonen/Coulthard on 28 November. The team then moves to Barcelona from 3-5 December and Jerez from 12-14 December.

Renault: Interim Car for Spain

The Renault team will take one interim development car and a standard R202 to the Valencia test from 26-28 November followed by Barcelona (3-5 December) and Jerez (10-14 December). Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso will share the driving. The interim car will feature next year's mechanical package which is being developed in preparation for the official launch of the R203 which is expected in January.

Sauber: Heidfeld for Valencia

The Sauber Petronas team will resume testing with Nick Heidfeld from 26 November in Valencia while Heinz-Harald Frentzen will have his first winter test with the team from 5-7 December at Jerez, sharing one chassis with Heidfeld. For the last of the three test sessions (11-13 December) Sauber will field two cars for both drivers.

The test programme will include components for the new C22, aerodynamic parts and tyres. The Ferrari type 051 engine will only be available for the new car which should be ready by mid-January. In connection with the new testing regulations, the team is still debating the best way to go. Commented Peter Sauber: "It needs careful analysis to weigh up the benefits in terms of money and extra time on the race track against the disadvantages in terms of development. If we accept the ten days' restriction, then we would expand our programme on those ten days from one to two cars."

Jordan: No Interim Car

The Jordan squad, which will be switching to the 72-degree Cosworth V10 engine next season, is not building an interim test car but concentrating all its efforts on finalising the design of the new EJ-13 which should be ready for its official unveiling during the second full week of January.

Jaguar: New Drivers, Engine to Test

Newly recruited Jaguar drivers Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia will sample the team's interim test car fitted with the new 90-degree Cosworth V10 engine for the first time at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya between 26-28 November. The new Jaguar R4 will be officially unveiled on January 13 next, definitely in the UK.

BAR: Davidson for Barcelona

The BAR-Honda team will resume testing on 26 November at Barcelona where Anthony Davidson will be testing a number of systems for the new 005, particularly electronic software and sensors. Work on the new car continues and two chassis are close to completion. Technical director Geoff Willis said: "We have some interesting new parts for next year and have generated some innovative designs."

Minardi: Old Car at Valencia

Minardi will be testing at Valencia from 26-28 November using the old PS01 fitted with the old Cosworth engine, they aim to evaluate Frenchman Franck Montagny, winner of the 2001 Nissan Championship, and Sergei Zlobin. The team is in no hurry to disclose its drivers. Minardi has already received a 2002 72-degree V10 Cosworth engine and is planning to start the year with an evolution of the 2002 car fitted with this engine, although no official announcement has been made. Minardi is hoping that two other teams will decide to skip private testing in exchange for Friday morning tests on race weekend as the regulations will only permit this if three teams choose it.

Toyota: da Matta to Have First Test

Newly crowned CART champion Cristiano da Matta will have his first outing as a fully fledged member of the team at Barcelona from 26-28 November where he joins Olivier Panis for an intensive programme of testing. The drivers will used the interim development version of the TF102 fitted with next year's new V10 engine and the longitudinal seven-speed gearbox. The team will then test at Paul Ricard (2-5 December) and Barcelona (3-5 December) with one driver at each of the two circuits.