Ferrari suspected of circumventing technical regulations

La Team Has Ferrari found a solution to circumvent the technical regulations regarding its engine? This is what Red Bull (and many others) seem to suspect. The stable of Milton Keynes made a written request to the FIA ​​regarding the flow meter, which must control the fuel flow by limiting it to 100 kg/h.

As is generally the case, the correspondence between the Austrian team and the federal body gave rise to a federal technical directive, transmitted to the teams this weekend in Austin. 

In its response to Red Bull, the FIA ​​explained that the systems presented by the Red Bull did not comply with the regulations. Nikolas Tombazis, responsible for technical issues in the single-seater series, recalled that the flow meter was measured by an FIA sensor at regular intervals and that any process aimed at modifying the data of the device, like Dieselgate for imaging, was strictly prohibited.

Since the start of the school year in Belgium, Ferrari was undefeated in qualifying and doubts surrounding the SF90's formidable top speed in a straight line continued to grow. Therefore, it is difficult not to conclude that Red Bull was not so much seeking to have a solution of its own approved as to push the FIA ​​to legislate and pave the way for possible complaints from competitors after the Grand Prix. 

In Mexico, there were already strong rumors that some were ready to take the plunge. In any case, these widespread suspicions have the gift of annoying Ferrari. Mattia Binotto, head of Gestione Sportiva, has already invited the FIA ​​to examine the transalpine engine from every angle to prove that the accusations were grotesque and unfounded. 

Chance or coincidence, the first qualifying session post-federal technical directive resulted in a defeat for the Scuderia, even if Sebastian Vettel was only 12 thousandths behind the poleman Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) in Austin. Lewis Hamilton, 5th on the Texan grid, was surprised by this slight decline in performance in the Reds camp. 

« It's interesting to see what happens, commented the potential six-time world champion. I feel like they lost a bit of power. It will be interesting to see if the phenomenon also materializes in racing. They are generally still faster than us in a straight line, but I hope that our car will be stronger during the GP. »

Case to follow.