Several Formula 1 teams have been in talks with the FIA during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, asking whether Ferrari complied with tire testing regulations due to the way it used its car.
Teams are not supposed to change car components, or use anything they haven’t previously used in pre-season testing, during tire testing.
But in Imola, it was possible to see how Charles Leclerc drove in the morning with a different soil than Carlos Sainz in the afternoon session, which also seemed to be new
Following questions from the teams, the FIA carried out an investigation into the matter and was satisfied with Ferrari , stating that they had complied with the regulations.
It has been learned that his verdict was based on the fact that the change of flat bottom in the Ferrari was due to Leclerc causing some damage to the car during the morning laps.
They also think that the version used by the Italian team for the afternoon session in Sainz ‘s car is one that they had used previously, either in pre-season testing or in some FP1.
However, some teams are still not satisfied with this decision by the FIA, claiming that the regulations require the part to have been used in the race or used in pre-season testing.
McLaren boss Zak Brown believes the FIA needs to give teams a detailed explanation of the situation and demonstrate when the ground was used, so they can be satisfied with how strictly the FIA controls the regulations.
“I think the important thing is that we fully trust the FIA to control the series, whether it’s a test or a race weekend,” said Brown. “But we also need full transparency.”
“It has been suggested, or so I have heard, that maybe it was an older floor. Maybe it is. But I think the important thing is that if it is, they prove it to the teams. We just want them to give us the confidence that it has been monitored properly and with total transparency”.
“We’ve had in the past, not too long ago, an engine violation a few years ago, and then there was a significant fine. We don’t know how much and we don’t know exactly what was done either.
“I think in these times, full transparency will help the sport understand what happened, why it happened and what has been done about it.”
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi also felt that a proper explanation from the FIA would be helpful in avoiding any suspicion surrounding the matter.
“I wouldn’t point the finger at anyone yet, because I don’t know the details, so it wouldn’t be fair,” he explained. “But at the end of the day, what we need is transparency.
“We need to know if there was something wrong or not, and if there is, what is the result. The most important thing is that we don’t need a veil.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the circumstances of the Ferrari test will at least ensure that the issue is scrutinized further in future.
“The FIA has to be aware of these things,” he said. “It can’t be that any team is using components in an environment where they shouldn’t. And I guess if the FIA wasn’t 100% vigilant, I’m sure they will be now.”
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also shared his opinion: “The FIA has confirmed that Ferrari used that flat bottom in pre-season testing, so therefore it’s compliant.”
“It’s the FIA that has to do that police work and due diligence, because what we really want to avoid is that, because these cars are so immature and it’s still very early in their development stage, tire testing turn into aerodynamic development tests or performance tests. That’s not the point of those tests.”
Ferrari has insisted that it fully complied with the regulations with the flooring it used at the Imola test.
