APRIL 10, 2001

Imola meeting may reconsider test ban

A meeting of F1 team principals at this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix has been convened to discuss the possibility of revoking the F1 test ban which, at the present moment, will last from the final race of the season on October 14 until December 31.

However Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn is indignant that some team principals who want to lift the ban are now suggesting that Ferrari and Benetton are both standing out against such a step.

"I always had a mixed view about the suspension of testing for such a long time and Ferrari really went along with the consensus of the majority," said Brawn, "even though on the face of it we had more to lose with our dedicated test track facilities available.'

Brawn said that Ferrari had now completely re-organized its approach to next winter's F1 development, using more computer simulation work in the factory. Word is it will take some pretty persuasive talking on the part of the other teams to get Brawn and Jean Todt to alter their position on this.