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Formula One - 2020


BOF

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1 minute ago, Mic09 said:

I know that - I meant next season as the one after ;)

He drove the worst car last year so who knows, maybe a better team would use his to bigger advantage. 

The only way you'll see Kubica in a race seat ever again is if Raikkonen or Giovinazzi are ill on a Sunday.

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Another utterly head scratching (read : worrying) day for Ferrari.  Despite the fastest time for Vettel (on a C5), nothing makes sense with them yet.  Even the Sky guys spent the day trying to figure out what on earth Ferrari are achieving.  At this rate they may just be top 3 but they're very third in that order.

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2 episodes in to Drive to Survive and they sensibly focus on Haas and Gunter. The guy is a legend. He’s just layed into the drivers so much K Mag smashed his office door 😆

Then to start the 3rd episode Ricciardo says Well Netflix are a bunch of see you next Tuesday’s then laughs that they won’t put that in. 

This programme is just essential viewing, so good.

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Rivals considering response to FIA settlement

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Ferrari’s rivals are said to be “shocked” and “angry” after the Scuderia reached an agreement with the FIA regarding last year’s engine controversy.

Last season Ferrari’s power unit came to the fore, the best of the bunch, which led to speculation from rivals that not all was above board.

Teams requesting clarification from the FIA, who issued two Technical Directives – relating to fuel flow rate.

A third TD was later issued, informing teams that they will be running a second fuel flow sensor in the 2020 campaign.

The matter of the legality of the Ferrari engine was by no means over with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko saying Red Bull were ready to protest the Ferrari power unit come this year’s Australian GP.

Ferrari, though, has “reached a settlement” with the FIA.

The statement read: “The FIA announces that, after thorough technical investigations, it 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.

More in the link

Certainly shines a new light on this season's winter testing performances.  They're slower because this year their engine is actually legal.

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Why the FIA struck a confidential deal over Ferrari’s power unit

A softer take on why there was a settlement and non-disclosure.

Quote

Why the FIA struck a confidential deal over Ferrari’s power unit

More in the link ...

Suspicions had long lingered in the paddock that Ferrari had managed to circumvent F1’s fuel flow and/or oil burn regulations, obliging the governing body to examine the matter in-depth. However during last year’s Mexican Grand Prix an FIA official admitted to RaceFans they had checked Ferrari’s entire fuel system and were none the wiser.

As part of its investigation the FIA also checked (unspecified) Ferrari customer power units and those of another unnamed supplier. Adding to the intrigue, Ferrari appeared to lose performance in the latter stages of the season. At the time team boss Mattia Binotto denied that this was in any way related to a clampdown on Ferrari’s engine operating procedures.

RaceFans understands suspicions over the working of Ferrari’s power unit led to new rules for 2020 adding a second sensor to monitor fuel flow. To compensate for the required plumbing, a late tweak to the rules raised the minimum weight limit by a kilo. In 2021 a standardised fuel system will be introduced, further restricting what teams can do in this area.

Investigations into Ferrari’s 2019 system are believed to have continued well into the winter break, with a ‘settlement’ seemingly reached on condition that Ferrari shared its ‘secret’ with the FIA to enable the governing body to better monitor power units and plug any regulatory loopholes. The deal suggests Ferrari’s technology was untraceable once the power unit was switched off – however this would not infringe the rules.

For its part it is likely that Ferrari insisted on confidentiality and non-disclosure of its technology in order to protect its intellectual property – or that of its suppliers – which could have commercial applications. While there is no indication Ferrari’s system was illegal – rather, extremely clever and difficult to trace – exactly what was being done remains unclear.

More in the link ...

 

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2 minutes ago, Genie said:

and the governing body are trying their best to cover it up.

I didn't even realise that Sepp Blatter had joined the FIA.

In case you missed my other post above this one (posted the same time as yours was...) give it a read.  Offers a good explanation of what more than likely occurred.

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3 minutes ago, BOF said:

In case you missed my other post above this one (posted the same time as yours was...) give it a read.  Offers a good explanation of what more than likely occurred.

Cheers @BOF I had missed that.

Sounds a bit like the police telling the thief, if you tell us how you did it we'll let you keep the money.

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Just now, Genie said:

Cheers @BOF I had missed that.

Sounds a bit like the police telling the thief, if you tell us how you did it we'll let you keep the money.

Kind of, but may not be outright illegal is the key difference.  Just very very clever, which I'm all for.  If it's a loophole then use it.  But now they've closed the loophole, Ferrari get to keep their innovative technology, but they seem to be struggling to make up the performance loss.

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1 minute ago, BOF said:

but they seem to be struggling to make up the performance loss

which is bad news for the sport in general as it increases the likelihood Mercedes will piss it again.

FIA must have been tempted to try and turn a blind eye.

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Further develeping news on the BBC regarding the Ferrari engine thing:-

 

7 Teams object to Ferrari Engine Settlement

Seven of the 10 Formula 1 teams have formally objected to the handling of Ferrari's engine controversy last year.

Last week, governing body the FIA said it "reached a settlement" with Ferrari after investigating their engine.

Ferrari's rivals have issued a collective response expressing their "strong objection" to the confidential deal.

They say they will "pursue full and proper disclosure" and "reserve our rights to seek legal redress".

Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, Racing Point, Alpha Tauri and Williams all released identical statements to that effect on Wednesday morning.

The only teams not to sign other than Ferrari are Haas and Alfa Romeo, who use Ferrari engines.

 

 

The FIA do themselves no favours with this, they have often in the past been tagged as Ferrari International Assistance. They need to clarify this situation, as at the moment it looks like a cover up favouring Ferrari.

Edited by NeilS
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It could be illegal, but it may not be.  It will be interesting to see how it pans out.  Will the FIA/Ferrari yield ground and divulge what the innovataion was, or will it take the 7 teams going to the courts to try and expose it?  I suppose the level of legality will determine how willing Ferrari are to admit to what they were doing.

Taking a more holistic view of it all, this cloud is the last thing F1 2020 needs to be starting under.

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This is a good read of just how aggressive the teams' response was to the FIA's statement.  Shit just got real :D 

What explosive response to F1’s settlement storm means

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Formula 1 heads to the Australian Grand Prix under a cloud of controversy following the explosive response from seven teams to a confidential settlement between the FIA and Ferrari.

Legal action against the governing body of motorsport is not something that is threatened lightly.

However, McLaren, Mercedes, Racing Point, Red Bull, Renault, AlphaTauri and Williams – the championship’s non-Ferrari powered teams – have deemed it necessary to adopt a united front out of anger and shock.

They object to the FIA’s confidential settlement of an analysis into Ferrari’s 2019 engines, which emerged at the very end of pre-season testing last week.

The Race understands that as well as awaiting the FIA’s response to their statement, the teams also intend to write jointly to the governing body to seek further clarification.

Behind-the-scenes talks at the Australian Grand Prix, which hosts the season opener next week, are a given.

In the meantime, a public response from the FIA is considered likely.

The coordinated release of seven identical statements was a calm and considered expression of outrage.

Here is what was said, what it means, and why a serious and swift response is necessary.

More in link...

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How long before Ferrari threaten to walk away from f1 again

FIA not helping themselves again especially when the man in charge was a long term employee of Ferrari

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On 29/02/2020 at 10:16, AVFCDAN said:

2 episodes in to Drive to Survive and they sensibly focus on Haas and Gunter. The guy is a legend. He’s just layed into the drivers so much K Mag smashed his office door 😆

Just watched this episode. What a complete shit show that team is.

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The way Gene Haas is talking in the media already this season sounds like he's setting up to leave the sport before 2021.  Or at the very least he's laying out just how easy it would be from a financial commitment POV to leave if things don't start well this season.  And the reason I think they are gone in 2020 is that nothing in pre-season testing suggested to me that Haas will be doing anything other than battling with Alfa Romeo and Williams at the back, and they may not even be ahead of the former.  And even if they DO beat Alfa Romeo, will 8th in the WCC be enough to keep Haas F1 in the sport?  I doubt it.

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10 minutes ago, Jimzk5 said:

Haas might help themselves if they employ drivers who didn't crash into each other

True, although it is one of the few scenarios where it only takes one to tangle tango.

formula 1 mind blown GIF

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ICYMI

Well this says the square root of **** all :D  :D 

Follow-up FIA statement

Quote

FIA Statement following communication from seven Formula 1 Teams

The FIA has conducted detailed technical analysis on the Scuderia Ferrari Power Unit as it is entitled to do for any competitor in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The extensive and thorough investigations undertaken during the 2019 season raised suspicions that the Scuderia Ferrari PU could be considered as not operating within the limits of the FIA regulations at all times. The Scuderia Ferrari firmly opposed the suspicions and reiterated that its PU always operated in compliance with the regulations.The FIA was not fully satisfied but decided that further action would not necessarily result in a conclusive case due to the complexity of the matter and the material impossibility to provide the unequivocal evidence of a breach.

To avoid the negative consequences that a long litigation would entail especially in light of the uncertainty of the outcome of such litigations and in the best interest of the Championship and of its stakeholders, the FIA, in compliance with Article 4 (ii) of its Judicial and Disciplinary Rules (JDR), decided to enter into an effective and dissuasive settlement agreement with Ferrari to terminate the proceedings.

This type of agreement is a legal tool recognised as an essential component of any disciplinary system and is used by many public authorities and other sport federations in the handling of disputes.

The confidentiality of the terms of the settlement agreement is provided for by Article 4 (vi) of the JDR.

The FIA will take all necessary action to protect the sport and its role and reputation as regulator of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

 

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