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Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says he took to the grandstands during Formula 1 testing at Barcelona as a protest against proposed pass restrictions on teams this season.

Arrivabene was pictured with team personnel, including reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez, sat with F1 fans while watching testing unfold from the stands last Saturday.

The Scuderia boss said he made the move as a "provocation" against plans to increase limits on the number of paddock passes teams can hand out at races this year.

"I heard that in Australia there will be more restriction [for teams] in terms of passes and I think this is not acceptable," Arrivabene explained.

"So I said to the guys 'OK, if we're going to have a situation where the paddock is going to be empty it's better if we start training to go to the people and sit in the grandstands'.

"I have to say it was a good experience, because the people were well educated [about F1], they were respectful, they were asking for pictures. I hope to have other experiences like this.

"If we want to keep the exclusivity of this sport, exclusivity doesn't mean an empty paddock. This is my clear statement.

"I was using the example of golf. Golf is one of the most exclusive sports, but when they play you have thousands of people following the player.

"It's not working against the exclusivity of the sport.

"It was a kind of provocation and I love to do this kind of provocation.

"We need to take Formula 1 to the people. I don't like to see the paddock empty."

When asked to quantify the new limits, and whether he had discussed his concerns with F1 commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone, Arrivabene added: "I am expecting a phone call from him.

"Nothing is decided yet, but we have certain communication that the number will be reduced.

"In Formula 1 it's normal you have some rumours that become reality. I sit in the stand before it becomes reality."