Ferrari hits back at 'cheating' accusation
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has hit back at Max Verstappen's "cheating" accusation.
In Austin, amid suspicions about Ferrari's powerful engine, Red Bull-Honda requested a clarification about a technical trick relating to fuel flow.
The FIA responded with a technical directive, and Ferrari subsequently suffered an apparent drop in form not only in qualifying but also the race.
"You get that when you stop cheating," Red Bull's Verstappen told Ziggo Sport.
And Bild newspaper quotes him as saying: "Why do you think Ferrari could not fight with us at the start? I think you can imagine."
Binotto slammed the accusation.
"I have read a lot this weekend and after the race," he is quoted by De Telegraaf.
"I find the statements very disappointing. The comments are completely wrong and not good for the sport."
When asked what impact the FIA ruling had on the operation of Ferrari's engine, he insisted: "Nothing."
And Binotto told RTL: "It's good that there was a clarification.
"But we haven't even read it thoroughly. It had zero impact on our performance in the race.
"In the past, other teams also sometimes had a technical advantage, but no one pointed their fingers.
"If we have an advantage with our power unit, it is because we worked hard. It would only be fair if some of those comments were not made," he added.
And Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said of Verstappen's comments: "It's a big joke.
"He's not on the team, so he doesn't know what we do. He knows nothing about it."
However, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also sees a link between Ferrari's sudden form slump and the FIA ruling. "You'd have to ask Ferrari about that," he said.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff commented: "We looked at the data and their top speed looks very different to the last race.
"But I don't know if it's due to the technical directive or something else, because I have no idea what Ferrari is doing."
When asked why Ferrari suddenly slumped in Austin, Binotto answered: "We don't know yet."
F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn told Auto Motor und Sport: "I think Ferrari's opponents read into the numbers what they want to read."
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Verstappen :- Love the way he gives a straightforward answer, the only problem is it could be his future employer so maybe he should give slightly more coy answers going forwards.
Wolff and Horner :- all but saying 'we called out Ferrari and have so far been proved right'.
Ferrari, if their next result is as bad as Austin's then it'll look like they've been caught with their pants down.
Only question is 'how did Red Bull know what Ferrari had done with their fuel supply device?'
OK then how about we just accept the team managers' actual words and not spin them? As for VER's comments, he is really not that clever and probably has no clue re the technical aspects of other cars, let alone F1 politics.
Accept the manager's words? Really, why don't you accept the results and what other managers and drivers were saying. You need to watch the race to see what was happening and how things changed since the previous race before FIA made their comment.
As to your attempt to divert attention by attacking Verstappen, nice try but to obvious!
First off, I was obviously referencing Wolff and Horner comments. They ARE the other managers. Second, the FIA issued a technical clarification....they do it quite a bit, over 30 times this season. Third, VER does not need my comments to be a distraction. Finally, In this article, Brawn's comment is the most cogent. This all pretty obvious stuff.
I glad you agree with me now. Obviously I was referring to the one FIA technical clarification regarding Fuel Flow which affected Ferrari.
I would have thought that was a pretty basic consideration!!
A good experienced smart drive never accuses or puts down another team simply cause his ben
beaten before. F1car performance can change at anytime f1 is so complex,by the way didn't ferrari had the fastest lap. Ver's needs to grow.
Just like his father, stupid, brash. conceited,ignorant, as well as a bull shitter, but a hell of a lt faster
Sure you can have problems one race , but 50 seconds even with an extra pit stop is very very weird indeed. Ferrari says we have no idea why. But it wasn't because we did something we shouldn't have done. We'll i guess we will see next 2 races don't we? if in both Ferrari doesn't perform there might be more going on then they are willing to admit. If they are quick again then we can say MAX should have kept his mouth shut.
Toto is not the type to imply anything about another team without a sound reason!! However, RB are continually accusing others and saying hot air.
So I think the jury is out on Ferrari. Let's see what happens in Brazil!
Spot on.
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