The head of Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, has expressed disapproval of Red Bull testing Max Verstappen at Imola before taking a plane to Barcelona.
During the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, it was revealed that Red Bull had quietly conducted a private test with Max Verstappen at Imola just before the team headed to Barcelona. The session, which featured Verstappen behind the wheel of the 2022 RB18, took advantage of a regulation permitting the use of previous cars for testing purposes.
This specific regulation allows teams to use cars that are at least two years old, maintaining the specifications from that season, and fitted with special Pirelli tires for the test. Teams frequently utilize these opportunities to let junior drivers gain experience without affecting official testing schedules, a practice known as Testing Previous Cars (TPC). Recently, Mercedes had Kimi Antonelli drive the W13, and Alpine announced Mick Schumacher and Jack Doohan would be testing the A522 at Paul Ricard in early July.
However, it is somewhat unusual for a reigning champion like Verstappen to participate in such a test mid-season. While it is common for teams to offer their current drivers testing sessions after breaks, doing so in the midst of an intense championship battle is rare. Red Bull did not publicize this test as openly as others, leading to some dubbing it a ‘secret’ session. Despite this, the FIA is fully aware of all TPC activities, as regulations do not require these tests to be publicized.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, commented on the matter, suggesting that the Red Bull test appeared more focused on development rather than mere driver acclimatization. “Over the season, I think we will do probably a bit less than 10 TPC sessions,” Vasseur noted. “But when you do a TPC with your racing drivers a week before a race, it’s clearly more about development.”
Vasseur made it clear that he did not have any issues with Red Bull’s test, acknowledging that it was within the regulations. “I’m not complaining about them; it’s completely okay and within the rules,” he said. “It’s more about development than giving Max mileage between Barcelona and Austria.”
As the season progresses, the strategic use of TPC sessions by teams like Red Bull continues to stir conversations and raise questions about the fine line between testing and development in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
