In this dismal context it is no wonder that a row has broken out in Italy, where control of Telecom Italia recently passed to Pirelli, a tyre and cables group.
However, the team have opted not to take part in next week's test and instead will do some private filming with tyre supplier Pirelli, who are replacing Bridgestone in 2011.
Besides selling control of AvtoVAZ to Renault-Nissan, RT has already sold a controlling stake in two tyre factories to Pirelli of Italy, which will try to turn them into exporters of winter tyres to Canada and the Nordic countries.
Provera said Pirelli, which started life as a family-run business and flourished into the world's fifth-largest tyre maker, is typical of Italian entrepreneurship.