No Ferrari testing for Massa

The choice of signing Gene, who was released from his contract with Williams at the end of the season in the wake of his disappointing race showings in the French and British grands prix, was in part caused by Massa's Sauber team switching to Michelin tyres.

Although Massa regularly tested for Ferrari this year, and has a close relationship with the team amid speculation that he is being groomed as a long-term replacement for Michael Schumacher, the Scuderia was forced to accept that it could not use him next year after a request from Sauber's new tyre supplier.

Sources close to the team reveal that Michelin did not want the Brazilian to take any knowledge he had of the French company's products to Ferrari or its tyre supplier Bridgestone if he continued his work for the Italian outfit. A source close to Ferrari told autosport.com: "We accepted the request."

With Ferrari needing two test drivers to help conduct the work it does on car, engine and tyre development, the new Massa situation meant the Maranello outfit had to find a partner for regular Luca Badoer - and Gene was the most obvious choice.

Ironically, the decision to sign Gene hands Ferrari a vital databank of knowledge of Michelin tyres and the benchmark BMW engine from the Spaniard's long-term relationship with Williams.

Gene, speaking to Autosport this week, said that he spoke to several teams about a testing role after Williams but that Ferrari was the first to take him up on the offer.

"They were the first to call and the first to offer a deal," he said. "It would have been very difficult for me to say no."