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Ferrari’s Formula 1 rivals still feel the engine saga of 2019 has left a “sour taste” despite the team’s slump in form this season triggered by rule clarifications from the FIA.
Mercedes and Red Bull were frustrated last season by Ferrari’s controversial post-summer upturn in form, which eventually led to the governing body emphasising the rules regarding potential fuel-flow manipulation and burning oil for performance gains.
“There were races that we should have won last year arguably if they did run with an engine that [now] seems to be quite different” :: Christian Horner
Further measures have been taken since, including the addition of a second fuel-flow sensor, while the FIA also conducted an investigation into Ferrari’s 2019 engine but opted to settle the matter confidentially because it could not determine whether the engine was legal or not.
That angered the non-Ferrari teams, which initially hinted at potential legal action over the issue. Though this was never pursued there is still dissatisfaction about how the affair was handled – even though Ferrari’s form has nosedived following the FIA’s engine clarifications.
Ferrari hit a new low at the Belgian Grand Prix when its underpowered car was not good enough to score points, both drivers were beaten by the customer Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen, and last year’s Spa winner Charles Leclerc finished behind Kevin Magnussen’s Ferrari-powered Haas as well.
“The whole thing left quite a sour taste,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner when asked by The Race after the Belgian GP if the situation over the engine debate was still frustration, or had now balanced itself out.
“Obviously you can draw your own conclusions from Ferrari’s current performance.
“But there were races that we should have won last year arguably if they did run with an engine that [now] seems to be quite different in terms of performance than they had last year.”
Ferrari initially did not link its drop in straightline speed this year and the FIA technical directives but ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix last month team boss Mattia Binotto admitted Ferrari had suffered as a result of the clarifications.
Ostensibly, this is because of the efforts the manufacturer has made to reinforce its legality – as it has always denied any wrongdoing.
Binotto claimed others were affected as well, something Mercedes boss Toto Wolff called “bullshit” at the time and Honda and Renault also rejected.
Wolff also said that Mercedes’ engine advantage in 2020 was an “ironic” consequence of Ferrari’s actions in 2019, as the Ferrari challenge prompted Mercedes to redouble its efforts – but at a human cost as it “brought us to almost burnout”.
“We suffered. And we lost some people [from the team] in terms of just being at the end of their health” :: Toto Wolff
While Ferrari finished outside the points in Belgium Mercedes scored another 1-2 finish, its sixth win in seven races, and extended its advantage in pursuit of another F1 title double in the process.
On Saturday at Spa, Wolff had said Ferrari was paying the price for decisions made by “certain members” of the team.
Asked by The Race on Sunday if he shared Horner’s view that a “sour taste” remained, or considered the current competitive order a way of balancing things out, Wolff said: “Ferrari is an iconic brand and fantastic people build these cars.
“It’s difficult to say because I don’t want to put any more oil into this…
“But we were really stretched so much last year, and the year before that.
“We suffered. And we lost some people [from the team] in terms of just being at the end of their health.
“This is why I would probably follow Christian’s comment.”
Binotto argued after the Spa race that a power deficit was just part of the poor result.
“On a track that requires aerodynamic efficiency and power, we were severely lacking in both,” said Binotto.
“Charles and Sebastian did their very best, both yesterday in qualifying and today in the race, but we couldn’t even get into the points.
“We are disappointed and angry, as indeed are our fans and with good reason.
“It’s a difficult moment in a season that we knew from the start would be a tough one, but it’s at times like this that we need to stand firm and look ahead in order to get over this difficult period. It’s the only way we will get out of this situation.”
