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While Ferrari's new single-seater was
hitting the courts over its choice of name,
the F150 getting itself was on track as the
second winter test session, prior to the
start of the season, which kicks off in just
over a month in Bahrain, got off this
morning, with Felipe Massa at the wheel.
Under sunny skies, that warmed up the Jerez
de la Frontera track, the Brazilian has
already done 51 laps so far today, running
through everything that was on the
development programme for the new car for
the morning. The main focus was on
aerodynamic testing and learning more about
the behaviour of the new Pirelli tyres.
Massa’s best time was a 1.20.709, which at
13.15, was the fastest set on this the
opening day. |
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Ferrari revealed this
afternoon that following Ford's announcement yesterday
that it would take legal action over the name of the
Scuderia's new 2011 Formula 1 single-seater, its
designation will now be changed to F150th Italia.
Yesterday the Ford Motor
Company launched court proceedings, claiming that the
designation of the new F150 infringed on its own F-150
pickup name, which it also holds the trademark for. Ford
also added that it would seek further damages from
Ferrari to the tune of $100,000 for "cybersquatting",
this relating to the internet microsite for the new
single seater, which was launched on January 28.
This afternoon Ferrari
issued a press release, stating that it 'in good faith'
would amend the name of the new F150 to F150th Italia
(the name was chosen to celebrate the 150th anniversary
of the unification of Italy which falls on March 17).
"In the subject of the
name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car, the Maranello
company wishes to point out that it has sent a letter of
reply to Ford, underlining the fact that the Ferrari
F150th Italia designation (used as the abbreviated
version of the complete name, which is Ferrari F150th
Italia) never has, nor ever will be used as the name of
a commercially available product – indeed there will
definitely not be a production run of single-seaters,"
read the Ferrari statement. "In fact, it has always been
the case in the history of Scuderia names, that they
represent the nomenclature of a racing car project and
are linked to a chronological order with a technical
basis, or in exceptional cases, to special occasions.
This year, the decision was taken to dedicate the car
name to a particularly significant event, the 150th
anniversary of the Unification of Italy, an event of
such great importance that the Italian government has
declared, for this year only, a national holiday.
"For these reasons," the
statement issued in Maranello continued. "Ferrari
believes that its own contender in the forthcoming F1
championship cannot be confused with other types of
commercially available vehicle of any sort whatsoever,
nor can it give the impression that there is a link to
another brand of road-going vehicle. Therefore it is
very difficult to understand Ford’s viewpoint on the
matter. Despite this and to further prove it is acting
in good faith and that it operates in a completely
correct manner, Ferrari has decided to ensure that in
all areas of operation, the abbreviated version will be
replaced at all times with the full version, Ferrari
F150th Italia."
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