“While awaiting an update from the FIA as to how rules relating to “Test Previous Cars,” which establish the criteria for which cars can be used in this type of test, are being applied for 2022, the decision has been taken to use a 2018 SF71H car. Further details on the test programme will follow later.”
The regulations have not yet been updated to define whether or not last season’s cars would now be applicable to use.
Currently, the sporting regulations state that testing using current generation cars is strictly prohibited though cars from the previous three years preceding the current year’s championship are permitted.
“Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) shall be defined as any track running time, not part of an Event, in which a Competitor entered in the Championship participates (or in which a third party participates on behalf of a Competitor or a supplier of a homologated power unit), using cars which were designed and built in order to comply with the Formula 1 Technical Regulations of any of the three calendar years falling immediately prior to the calendar year preceding the Championship.”
With the huge changes to the cars for the upcoming season, Ferrari intended to run its 2021 car though that is no longer the case, with all three of the drivers participating (Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and Robert Shwartzman) now using the team’s 2018 car.