Formula 1: Ferrari struggling to shrug off ‘cheating’ allegations

Ferrari is having a hard time convincing others that it is not cheating after suffering a drop-off in pace in the wake of an FIA Technical Directive relating to flow limits.

While Lewis Hamilton said the timing was “quite interesting”, Max Verstappen blatantly used the word “cheating”.

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto insists there’s nothing untoward; Ferrari just opted to swap straightline speed for cornering at the United States GP.

FIA issue Technical Directive ahead of Austin

With six pole positions in six grands prix, including three race wins, Ferrari’s rivals became suspicious about the Scuderia’s power unit.

Red Bull wrote to the FIA to question the design, resulting in a TD being issued by head of single-seater technical matters Nikolas Tombazis.

In that he cited Article 5.10.3 of the regulations as well as Article 5.10.5:

“All cars must be fitted with a single fuel flow sensor, wholly within the fuel tank, which has been manufactured by the FIA designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA. This sensor may only be used as specified by the FIA.

“Furthermore, all fuel delivered to the power unit must pass through this homologated sensor, and must all be delivered to the combustion chambers by the fuel injectors described by Article 5.10.2.”

5.10.5 added: “Any device, system or procedure the purpose and/or effect of which is to increase the flow rate or to store and recycle fuel after the measurement point is prohibited.”

Days later, with the FIA keeping a watchful eye of proceedings, Ferrari lost pace.

No pole position, no bid for victory

For the first time in seven qualifying sessions, the Scuderia did not put a car up onto pole position at the Circuit of the Americas.

Sebastian Vettel lost out to Valtteri Bottas while Charles Leclerc, who it must be noted was running an older Spec 2 engine, was only fourth.

Speaking to RaceFans.net on the Saturday night, Hamilton questioned the timing.

“What’s come out this week has been quite interesting to see,” he said.

“Obviously today I think they’ve lost a bit of power. I’m interested to see how that continues and how it reflects in the race.”

A day later and Ferrari was unable to recover in the grand prix.

Vettel lost ground in the opening nine laps, falling further and further off the pace as he dropped from second to seventh. He retired when his suspension failed.

As for Leclerc, the Monégasque driver was out of the battle for the podium 10 laps into the race as he could not keep pace with the leading trio.

Verstappen says that’s because Ferrari had been “cheating” in the past.

He told Ziggo Sport: “That’s what you get when you stop cheating, of course.

“It’s now being carefully watched, so now we have to keep a close eye on it, of course.”

Ferrari unhappy with allegations

As to be expected the Italian stable has not take the accusations lying down.

Leclerc says it is a joke that Verstappen feels he has any genuine knowledge of what is going on at Ferrari.

“I think it is a joke to be completely honest,” he said. “He has no clue. He is not in the team.

“We know exactly what we are doing. I don’t know why he is speaking. He doesn’t know anything about us.”

Team boss Mattia Binotto was also not impressed.

“I read and I heard a lot of comments this weekend about a technical directive and an impact on our cars,” said the Italian “I heard comments at the end of the race, which I think are very disappointing.

“I think it’s the type of comments which get it wrong and it’s not good for the sport and I think that everybody should be a bit more cautious.”

The Scuderia’s defence

While Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff highlighted that Ferrari’s speed trace was “totally different” in Austin to prior races, Binotto says there is simple explanation.

Ferrari, who has been down on cornering speed compared to the likes of Mercedes, opted to sacrifice straightline pace for cornerning.

“It is true that we were not gaining on the straights as much as the past races, but we matched our competitors in cornering – at least in qualifying,” the Ferrari team boss explained to Motorsport.com.

“The trade off between grip limit and power limit has been moved this weekend, as a test on our side, to try to match their cornering. I think that it is as simple as that.”