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Williams Strongly Opposes Schumacher Test

Following his brief testing session with the Ferrari F2007 last weekend, Michael Schumacher was aiming to do some more laps with Ferrari's 2007 challenger during the course of this week. In order to do that, however, the German ace and the Scuderia would have had to be granted permission by both the FIA and the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA).

While the FIA is yet to issue an official response to Ferrari's request, the FOTA will allegedly deny the Maranello based team of this favor. Although Toyota's team boss and FOTA's vice-chairman John Howett earlier suggested that all 8 teams would permit Schumacher to do the extra testing mileage – despite the in-season testing ban for this year – it has now emerged at least one team strongly objects it.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, it seems Frank Williams said a categorical “no” to Ferrari's request. We don't know whether this is the grudge talking – after all, Schu was the reason Williams F1 had failed to secure a couple of world titles in Formula One in the mid-90s – or some form of revenge over the FOTA, but Williams' decision might force Schu to remain sidelined until the Valencia race.

Earlier this year, while lodging their unconditional entry to the 2010 Formula One Championship, both Williams and Force India were suspended by the teams' alliance on an undetermined period of time. The two outfits are yet to be officially welcomed back into the FOTA.

While Williams firmly stands against such a decision, Vijay Mallya's Force India are yet to make their decision. In order for the FOTA to take this to the FIA, the request has to be unanimously agreed upon by all the members of the teams' alliance. Although Williams and Force India are still suspended, the FIA continues to consider them as part of the FOTA.

Michael Schumacher last tested a Formula One machinery – prior to his Mugello session last weekend – in April 2008, at Barcelona, when he drove a slick-fitted Ferrari F2008.
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