UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Ferrari to test 'shark fin' engine cover

Another teams copy Red Bull

Jul.25 (GMM) On the last day of the Jerez test on Friday, Ferrari is set to try for the first time a so-called 'shark-fin'-style engine cover.

The concept, already used at grands prix by the Red Bull teams, Renault and Force India, has also been tested recently by McLaren and Toyota.

Honda briefly tried a similar innovation on the engine cover of Rubens Barrichello's car at Jerez on Thursday.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen is confident the Jerez test has been useful for Ferrari, given his and the Italian team's lacklustre showing last weekend.

"We now have a clearer idea about what happened at Hockenheim," the Finn said.

Also at the Spanish test circuit on Thursday, Pedro de la Rosa's 2008 McLaren at one point featured the so-called 'elephant ears' nose horns, which have been raced in 2008 by Honda and BMW-Sauber.

De la Rosa, the Mercedes-powered team's veteran test driver, told Motorsport Aktuell he has been buoyed by McLaren's progress in recent weeks.

"Before Hockenheim we actually thought the track would suit Ferrari more than us. It shows that we have been working in the right direction," the Spaniard told the Swiss publication.

Force India, meanwhile, has this week been putting miles on its new seamless shift gearbox, that should make its debut next time out in Hungary.

Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella will not be able to sample the Budapest-spec car prior to Hungary, however, as he is recovering from a virus.

Written: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:45:01