Ferrari's punishment for Fernando Alonso: Drive this LaFerrari (w/VIDEO)

You know you’re in the dog-house at Ferrari, when rather than sunning yourself on a tropical beach (like most F1 drivers are during the season break) you’re ordered back to the factory for a spot of testing..

Of course, some testing jobs are better than others, so when duty called, Scuderia F1 driver Fernando Alonso didn’t protest too much.

In fact this video was filmed ‘prior’ to the Hungarian Grand Prix, the low point of Alonso’s season, after which he was tongue-lashed by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo for speaking ill of his beloved F138.

The video shows Fernando getting to grips with LaFerrari around Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit, then sharing his feedback with the development engineers back in the pits.

Ferrari’s 963 horsepower hybrid V12 supercar is in the final throes of testing before production begins and its privileged and very happy owners take delivery of their £1 million cars. It’s the quickest car ever to come through the gates on Via Abetone Inferiore and the culmination of everything Ferarri know about making a car fast.

Ferrari’s LaFerrari will begin production later in the year.

LaFerrari is powered by a 6,262 cc V12 engine that produces 789bhp at 9,000rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque at 6,750rpm, combined with an electric motor which adds 160bhp and 191 lb-ft of torque (from zero rpm).

As a consequence it accelerates from 0-62mph in less than 3 seconds, 0-125mph in less than 7 seconds, reaches 186mph in 15 seconds and laps Fiorano in around 1’19.90 – that’s over three seconds quicker than a F12berlinetta and five full seconds quicker than its predecessor, the Ferrari Enzo.

It’s not the first time Alonso has been filmed driving LaFerrari – in the first he indulged in dollops of sideways action, whereas this time you get the feeling he was actually ‘working’ (cough!).

Along with his team-mate Felipe Massa, the Spaniard was involved right from the start in the project and has shown more than a passing interest in bringing this extraordinary car to life.

Fernando’s legacy for when he switches to Red Bull in 2014? He’d have to be mad to leave a team which imposes such (sublime) test duties on its drivers.

How do you say ‘humble pie’ in Spanish?

Written By

Steve Davies

Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain. Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.