Ferrari engine under scrutiny as F1 teams chase FIA https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-engine-scrutiny-teams-fia/4559167/ A number of Ferrari's Formula 1 rivals have written to the FIA for clarity over the legality of design aspects they believe are behind the Italian team's engine advantage. Motorsport.com understands that Ferrari's competitors are seeking clarification over whether they are clear to pursue similar concepts themselves or if the ideas fall foul of the regulations. The requests have come after Ferrari's recent performance breakthrough revealed the full extent of its engine advantage, which is believed to be worth up to 0.8 seconds at some tracks and has been described as 'ludicrous' by one high-level team source. Since the summer break Ferrari has topped all five qualifying sessions and won three grands prix. A significant car upgrade in Singapore has helped counter the cornering performance deficit that held it back through much of the season, and turned its speed advantage into a crucial qualifying edge. Ferrari's gains have helped re-establish it ahead of Red Bull and also leapfrog Mercedes in terms of on-track performance. One theory relates to Ferrari's intercooler and how a controlled leak may allow a small amount of oil to enter the combustion process, and produce a power boost for a short period of time. Using oil in the intercooler, which Ferrari is thought to be alone in utilising, is permitted by the regulations, although the rules demand that such systems "must not intentionally make use of the latent heat of vaporisation of any fluid with the exception of fuel for the normal purpose of combustion in the engine". At least one of Ferrari's rivals believes this could be where part of its qualifying advantage comes from and has sought clarification over whether such a practice would be allowed. Ferrari's energy recovery system has also drawn attention from a different competitor, which has raised its own query with the FIA. However, Ferrari's rivals say they have not had responses to their attempts to gain clarification. The FIA's preference is that teams lodge a protest, something FIA president Jean Todt referenced last year when Ferrari was scrutinised by the FIA amid question marks over its ERS and battery usage. When approached by Motorsport.com over the current concerns from Ferrari's rivals, the FIA said it "continues to monitor all parameters relating to conformity of power units in the FIA Formula One World Championship to the technical regulations". It also stated it has "received no protest from any competitor regarding any current designs". The lack of a response from the FIA to specific correspondence has left Ferrari's rivals uncertain about how to proceed. Part of the worry is also whether this is among the fall-out from Charlie Whiting's shock death on the eve of the season and the redistribution of his wide-ranging responsibilities. When Whiting held his position as race director, formal and informal queries were a common way of clarifying the governing body's position on potential grey areas. This allowed concerns to be discussed openly and settled without the need for protesting, which could lead to teams targeting one another and create greater conflict. The process also fostered trust that the FIA was on top of sensitive technical matters, rather than relying on teams to formally table concerns before the governing body intervened. Ferrari's performance gains have not been enough to disrupt Mercedes' domination of the V6 turbo-hybrid engine era, as Mercedes wrapped up a sixth consecutive constructors' title in Japan, but it has become the benchmark in outright engine performance. In Russia, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said its engine advantage is "not as big" as some people think. The scrutiny over Ferrari's progress started in earnest last year with an investigation into its ERS that ended with the FIA insisting it was "satisfied". However, even then, elements of how the FIA handled that process led to concerns. Mercedes staff members Lorenzo Sassi and James Allison were publicly named by the FIA as responsible for raising the initial ERS concerns – a disclosure Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called "disturbing". An official protest against elements of Ferrari's current design appears unlikely. It would have to be made during a grand prix weekend and would likely be against the alleged non-compliance of a car within the regulations. That is generally required no later than thirty minutes after the publication of the provisional classification.
Racing Point had no problem protesting the Renaults at Suzuka, so if teams have concerns with the Ferrari engine, then they can protest. While I get what they're saying and they'd like more technical guidance, looks like a simple rule: protest or shut up.
I agree entirely. To me it's a tit-for-tat situation, after Ferrari calling doubt on the Mercedes wheels last year. Interestingly, one of the man behind the demand of clarification is ex-Ferrari staff James Allison. Does he know something ?
Mercedes being overhauled by Ferrari so Ferrari must be cheating...shame Pirelli can’t whip up a set of special tires for Ferrari too.....
History of F1 - this is not a new item. Constant analysis by all teams. Debate on legality. Never does end.
Yes and it's only made worse by the lack of testing. Ferrari finally crawls back to competitiveness and others start moaning about this and that. I felt bad for Allison when his wife died, being a widower myself, but two years later with plenty of struggle in Ferrari, it's back to racing and an end to the MB parade. Yes it's protest or shut up time. Charlie dying suddenly may be a bit of karma along with the failure rut at Williams after the death of Senna. And Seb is supposed to be all washed up but he still ends up on the podium and even pole! I missed last weekend's pole due to the typhoon. Sure he blew the start but look at him go in a balanced car!
From what I remember without using Google, the tit for tat didn't start after Ferrari questioned Mercedes wheels, but with Mercedes questioning Ferrari's qualifying trim and Ferrari had to make some changes - at the behest of a certain James Allison who had just jumped ship. Stand to be corrected. Best, Sammy
Appears Red Bull were the initiator at an early inquiry prior to Mercedes?? https://f1i.com/news/272476-mercedes-james-allison-sell-former-team.html The FIA reiterated its firm stance on F1's burning-oil-for-fuel ploy which emerged at the beginning of this year, a move which may have weakened Ferrari. Engine oil burn suspicions were brought to the forefront earlier this year when Red Bull queried the governing body over the legality of the scheme and suspicions that Mercedes was perhaps getting a boost in qualifying from the trick. The German outfit quickly denied any wrongdoing however, justifying its speed on Saturday by clever engine mapping. But ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the FIA reminded teams once again of the oil-for-fuel restriction, with pundits believing that Ferrari had been the target of the authority's warning. "There is someone who is now with the silver team that came from the red team and knew what to look for," said a prominent member of Red Bull Racing, clumsily hinting at Mercedes tech boss James Allison - who worked for Ferrari until the middle of last year - as the person who may have put the FIA on Ferrari's tail. Renault's Remi Taffin believes that it's likely the FIA had a good reason to repeat its warning in Baku. "You never have these kind of discussions and clarifications from the FIA if something hasn't been done," Taffin told Motorsport.com. "But I have to say that as far as we are concerned, we did not really pay attention to this [last clarification]. "We had much more to do rather than get the last bit out of this kind of things. "We obviously understand what is being done. We fully appreciate the fact that we need to burn fuel [only]. "I don't think anyone is doing anything like that anymore. Just look at what is out there these days and that is the proper comparison."
What a lot of bollocks. Ferrari start getting results, Mercedes call in their paid friends at the FIA to try to thwart it. Weren’t somwuick to investigate Mercedes over the last 6 years until of course sufficient points had been scored to prevent them losing a title Forza Ferrari..... the only racing team and car marque that matters. Italia forever It’s easier to apologise than it is to ask permission
Maybe not, Sid; maybe not (?) Yesterday, the press suddenly woke-up, six days later, about a quote in a "Autobild" article, which is: "Ferrari betrügt und die FIA weiß es. Sie tut aber nichts, weil es ein Riesenskandal wäre.“ In English: "Ferrari cheats, and the FIA knows it; it does Nothing, because that would be a huge scandal". Honestly, I'm slightly suspicious; I would have started to believed it, if the source and author has been identified; but "the source is presumably Mercedes or Red Bull" reminds me of "Deep Throat" and is insufficent for me to take it seriously (Well, honestly: that the source is Mercedes or Red Bull is rather obvious, isn't it?). Rgds Original article here, for those who read German. https://www.autobild.de/artikel/formel-1-ferrari-am-pranger-15783295.html One of the "late reaction" articles here: https://nytimespost.com/fia-accused-of-covering-up-huge-ferrari-scandal-as-rivals-mercedes-and-red-bull-complain/ FIA accused of covering up ‘huge Ferrari scandal’ as rivals Mercedes and Red Bull complain By nytimespost October 23, 2019 One of Ferrari’s major rivals has accused them of cheating and believes the FIA are doing nothing to prevent a “huge scandal” from blowing up. Ferrari have at times looked frighteningly quicker than Mercedes and Red Bull this year and on several occasions opponents have questioned how the Italian team have so much pace. German publication Auto Bild report several other constructors have contacted F1’s governing body urging them to investigate. And a high-ranking member of a Ferrari competition team – presumably Mercedes or Red Bull – has vented their frustration. “The advantage is absurd and legally impossible to accomplish, because the technology is already very exhausted,” the source told Auto Bild. “Ferrari cheats and the FIA knows it. But it doesn’t matter, because it would be a huge scandal.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff could not get his head around Ferrari’s speed after the Belgian Grand Prix in August. “That [deficit] is enormous and the power is just ridiculous on Ferrari on these kinds of tracks,” he said. “You have got to do everything right and we didn’t.” Meanwhile, Red Bull chief Christian Horner also questioned the Prancing Horse after the Italian Grand Prix. “They are pushing the boundaries and you have to think some of it is coming from the electrical power, the combustion I think they’ve got some pretty juicy fuels that they’re running as well,” he said. “It’s probably a combination. These things are never usually a silver bullet, it’s probably a combination of factors.” But Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto claims his team’s advantage has been exaggerated. He said: “Our drag advantage is lower at high downforce. “Singapore showed that our superiority with the engine has been exaggerated.”
Nah mate, sour grapes, Mercedes always want to believe that they are best, and that the FIA will provide protection by removing aero and other developments from its rivals, while it is allowed to pretty much do what it wants (secret tests, special wheels, additional engine modes, flashed standard ECUs, etc) and if ever the FIA decides to make it public, it’s only ever once Mercedes have all the points they need... that the FIA haven’t said anything yet is because there is no rule Ferrari have broken, they have found a route to power and speed that works, and FIA are unable to prove it is anything other than innovation
Unless Mercedes hires someone from Ferrari to get some inside info, I doubt they can´t do anything. If they could protest, they would already have done it. Personally, I thing this is just BS. Everybody is happy at the corners but suddenly they complain when they get to the straights and see that hey´re not fasteest everywhere. The Ferrari has low drag and downforce, their lap times are not "magical", they barely got two wins at high speed tracks, they´re good at qualifying because they can stress the tyres at a single lap but destroy them in the long distances... They´re just throwing some **** to the fan to see if they grab something.
