4 Aug 2009

Three teams block Schumacher's bid to test Ferrari's 2009 car

3:39 pm on 4 August 2009

Three Formula One teams have now blocked Michael Schumacher's bid to test Ferrari's 2009 car ahead of his return to the sport.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso have joined Williams in opposing Ferrari, which had written to the other nine teams and the sport's governing body, the FIA, asking for the German to be granted a day at the wheel of the race car.

But three teams insisted in-season circuit testing must remain prohibited, as FIA rules dictate.

Schumacher will replace the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix later this month.

The 40-year-old Schumacher, who is standing in after Massa was seriously injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, began his preparations by driving a 2007 Ferrari at the team's Mugello test track last week.

But in-season testing with this season's cars is banned under current regulations.