F1 | FIA clarification means there is no place for Sainz at Abu Dhabi test
It seems that Carlos Sainz may not be granted approval to join the one day test after all.
From the moment Fernando Alonso was given a special dispensation by the FIA to join the one day ‘Young Drivers’ Test’, it was inevitable other teams would try to follow suit for their drivers. However, it looks as though Scuderia Ferrari, who have always been against Alonso getting a place at the one day test, will not be successful in getting Carlos Sainz a place at the infamous test. This assumption comes from the fact that Motorsport.com has published that F1 race director Michael Masi sent a note to teams on Tuesday informing them that there would be no change to the test restrictions.
Many memes were created when it was first announced that Renault would make an application for Fernando Alonso to be accepted on to the one day ‘Young Driver’s Test’ which runs after the season finale of the 2020 F1 season, but as we know, the French manufacturer had the final laugh.
The ruling which enabled this outcome came from the FIA referring to the phrasing in the rules which stated: that the test would only be open to drivers who had competed in no more than two Grand Prix events, ‘unless otherwise approved by the FIA’. Fernando Alonso was granted the approval so that was that.
The FIA gave this special approval because the two-time F1 Drivers’ Champion, Fernando Alonso, has been away from F1 for two seasons. Other teams were quick to jump on this opportunity so it was little surprise to see Red Bull Racing have successfully signed up their test driver and experienced former F1 Grand Prix driver Sebastien Buemi to the test.
However, following an announcement by motoring website motorsport.com, it has been announced that F1 race director Michael Masi sent a note to teams on Tuesday informing them that there would be no change to the test restrictions.
This decision will no doubt frustrate Scuderia Ferrari in particular as they have been very vocal about Renault’s approach. Recently at the Sakhir Grand Prix, Team principal Mattia Binotto said:
“I think it's quite a bit of a mess, and certainly we Ferrari, contrary to the fact that Fernando is testing in Abu Dhabi, we think it's wrong,” stated Binotto. “We made it clear with FIA at the time during the various advisory committees. But having heard the decision, we have asked the FIA the permission for Carlos. We discussed it this weekend, but we have no feedback.”
The feedback for all teams seems to have now come in the note from Michael Masi which has been reported in the media. It is reported that:
Masi made clear that the FIA’s stance was that, for any driver who had taken part in more than two Grands Prix, they would only be given approval to run at the test if ‘they had not competed in any F1 races during the 2020 season.’
As a result of Carlos Sainz racing in every race this season, the Spaniard finds himself on 97 points and seventh in the F1 Drivers’ Championship. This clearly rules him and many other drivers on the grid out of the Tuesday test.
However, even if Jack Aitken continues to stand in for George Russell in Abu Dhabi, this would only mean the young Briton has competed in two F1 Grand Prix events in 2020. Therefore, the F2 racer would still be eligible to take part in the one day test.
All may not be lost though for Carlos Sainz, as he will now be hopeful to get a private test in a 2018 Ferrari F1 car at the start of next year.
Scuderia Ferrari are desperate to get Carlos Sainz some much needed track time as they know that they are not as competitive as they should be.
At present there are many quicker cars in the field and should this continue to be the case in 2021 it would mirror what Carlos Sainz experienced at the Sakhir Grand Prix. Although, if Scuderia Ferrari continue to be off the pace in 2021, one could expect a less pragmatic response than the one heard from the Spaniard last time out after his 4th place finish:
“When you get beaten by cars that are a bit quicker and a bit luckier you cannot complain,” said Sainz at Sakhir. “Especially because the Renaults have been quicker all weekend and Racing Points too, so already the job we did yesterday in qualifying and today to jump at the start and got ourselves a bit ahead – even on pace, sometimes by better tyre management – we were managing to open some gaps and together with that I think we kept ourselves really, really in the fight the whole way through,” he explained.
Despite not finishing on the podium, when it had looked a possibility, Sainz found himself in wheel to wheel battles with the race leaders, and he will be hoping for much of the same in 2021 when he joins the Prancing Horse of Scuderia Ferrari….although there seems a long way to go for that.
Carlos Sainz knows that there is a big job ahead of him when he changes from wearing papaya to red but he has previously gone on record remaining upbeat about the prospect to race for the Italian outfit:
“I'm very comfortable with the decision I've taken…I've got 100% confidence in Ferrari’s people in what they can do for the future. Let's just remember that last year they were capable of doing seven pole positions, so it's a team that I think knows how to produce very good cars.”
Scuderia Ferrari do indeed produce very good cars but following today’s announcement, it seems that Carlos Sainz will have to wait until 2021 before he is able to experience that himself.
