Did Ferrari F1 Prevent FIA from Revealing Details of Controversial 2019 Engine

Published 04/09/2020, 6:49 AM EDT

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Before the coronavirus totally smoothed the F1 season, F1 was under the spell of the secret understanding between the FIA and Ferrari F1. Jean Todt is at last opening up, despite the fact that it’s not the entire story.

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FIA president Jean Todt says he would “love” to discharge the insights regarding the Ferrari F1 engine debate and the group’s assent, however, the group is preventing him from doing as such.

In a selective meeting with Autosport for the first time since the problem over the private understanding between the FIA and Ferrari ejected over a settlement in regards to the lawfulness of Ferrari’s 2019 motor, Todt says that his options were limited as far as what can be said.

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He is certain that the FIA made the best choice in opening up about its course of action. Jodt also says he pushed Ferrari’s opponents to carry matters to the head by fighting the prancing horse.

If you ask me, I would love to be able to give all the details of the situation, but they [Ferrari] opposed,” explained Todt.

“So, I mean, they have been sanctioned but we cannot give the detail of the sanction.

“And clearly we could have said nothing.

“But we felt that it would have been wrong not to say that the Ferrari case had been discussed and that there had been a sanction.

“Honestly, it’s very simple. Very simple. We have put so much effort to come to our conclusions, which they [the teams] do not agree.

“Unfortunately, it is very much a fait accompli of technical matters, because our technicians say ‘we cannot for sure demonstrate as much as we should that they [Ferrari] were not legal’.”

It is Ferrari F1 vs the Seven Non-Ferrari teams

The FIA’s position has goaded non-Ferrari groups who have threatened legal action against the overseeing body to force it to reveal the subtleties of the secret understanding. He affirms that no details will be inevitable, in light of the fact that Ferrari has opposed any divulgences.

Seven groups wrote to Todt in the wake of the FIA/Ferrari F1 declaration communicating their disquiet about the arrangement and cautioning they could make lawful move.

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From that point forward, Mercedes has ventured away from its association in the issue. It leaves Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, Williams, Racing Point, and AlphaTauri alone to think about their subsequent stages.

“I have spoken individually with some of the seven teams,” he says.

“One of them [Mercedes] decided it was completely out of it, despite having been one of the leaders.

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“Since then, I never heard about any other state of [change of heart].

“I read in the press that it was a discussion between two chairmen.

“I received a letter in answer to my letter, where they confirmed they understand the position of the FIA.

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“But it didn’t mean they were happy of the position of the FIA. They would love Ferrari to allow the visibility of the case, which I would love too. But we can’t.”

 

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Written by:

Abhay Aggarwal

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Abhay Aggarwal is sports analyst at EssentiallySports. Having joined ES in early 2020, he has over 300 NASCAR, Formula 1, and Tennis articles to his name. Abhay has been an avid motorsports fan for over a decade, and he even attended the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in 2011.
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