23/12/2009
NEWS STORY
Plans for teams to hold a joint launch in Valencia at the end of January have been scrapped as it is not thought that all the cars will be ready in time.
The idea has been under consideration for some time, with members of the teams' alliance (FOTA) discussing the idea in Monaco earlier this month. However, the joint launch, which would have taken place in Valencia at the end of next month, just 48 hours before the first test of the year, has now been scrapped.
While some teams have already said that their cars would not be ready, it is also feared that not everyone would get an equal share of the media attention. With Michael Schumacher already grabbing the headlines for Mercedes, a Spanish launch for Ferrari, which now has (local hero) Fernando Alonso on board, would be sure to leave the relative minnows and newcomers out in the cold, publicity-wise.
While the joint launch has been dismissed, it is thought that several teams will use the Valencia test - which gets underway on February 1 - to publicly unveil their new cars, Mercedes admitting as much last week when announcing its title sponsorship deal with Petronas.