Aug.3 (GMM) The British team Williams has confirmed it used its veto power to block Michael Schumacher's test in the 2009 Ferrari.
Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport made the claim on Monday, after Ferrari asked its nine team rivals and the FIA if a one-off exemption to the in-season test ban might be granted in the special case of Schumacher returning to replace the injured Felipe Massa.
FOTA vice-chairman and Toyota president John Howett reacted by saying he believed all eight FOTA members had agreed, but the answer of the other stakeholders was not known.
La Gazzetta said Williams issued a categorical 'no', while Force India was still contemplating the issue. Full unanimity is required for such requests.
Williams compared the Schumacher situation to last month in Hungary, when the 19-year-old Jaime Alguersuari made his grand prix debut for Toro Rosso having never driven a formula one car on a proper circuit.
"Williams sees no distinction between Alguersuari's situation and Schumacher's and feels any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future," the Grove based team told the media on Monday.
"For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari's proposal to test ahead of the European grand prix," Williams added.
Written: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:49:14
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