Published 21:01 IST, March 4th 2020
Seven Formula 1 teams formally object to the Ferrari engine settlement
Seven Formula 1 teams have objected to the Ferrari engine settlement. They stated that they are 'shocked' and 'surprised' by FIA's confidential agreement.
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Seven Formula 1 teams have released a joint statement expressing their shock and surprise at the handling of the Ferrari engine controversy in 2019. Ferrari came under the radar last season due to their straight-line speed. However, only last week, FIA (the governing body of Formula 1) revealed that they have reached a 'settlement' with the Italian team following a long-running analysis into their Ferrari engine 2019-spec power unit.
Formula 1: Ferrari engine settlement
The details of the agreement between the FIA and Ferrari have been kept private. However, FIA stated that both parties agreed to 'a number of technical commitments'. This has caused some unrest and disbelief among the other Formula 1 teams. Seven out of the 10 have issued a threat to the handling of the Ferrari engine settlement from the FIA.
Formula 1: What's behind the Ferrari engine story?
Ferrari's engine was easily the best in 2019. So much so that their drivers were often gaining half a second advantage over their closest rivals during their straight-line qualifying laps. Although Ferrari didn't manage to challenge for the title and finished 235 points behind champions Mercedes, other Formula 1 teams (including Mercedes) were particularly annoyed about how they were achieving that cryptic advantage. They never made any formal protests at the time. Ferrari denied anything inappropriate and inconvenient.
On the final Friday of winter testing, FIA released the Ferrari engine settlement statement
FIA released a statement that it had conducted an analysis of the Ferrari Power Unit and reached a settlement with the team.
Opaque statement from FIA: "After thorough technical investigations, the FIA has concluded its analysis of the operation of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Power Unit and reached a settlement with the team. The specifics of the agreement will remain between the parties."
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) February 28, 2020
F1 news: Seven Formula 1 teams release critical joint statement
Seven Formula 1 teams - Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, Racing Point, Alpha Tauri and Williams - have released joint statements expressing their shock towards the FIA Ferrari engine settlement last week. The only two teams not to sign the statement apart from Ferrari are Haas and Alfa Romeo. It is so because they use Ferrari engines.
Seven #F1 teams have released a joint statement regarding the conclusion of the FIA's investigation into the Scuderia Ferrari power unithttps://t.co/p4peLGJBKK
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 4, 2020
21:01 IST, March 4th 2020