Pundits in Baku are connecting some vague dots between Ferrari’s relative under-performance in qualifying yesterday and the FIA’s recent restriction order regarding burning oil as fuel.
Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the FIA increased its efforts to restrict teams from attempting to generate a power boost by using oil as fuel.
Ferrari’s sudden loss of performance yesterday has fueled speculation that the Scuderia was specifically targeted by the FIA’s restrictive order.
Mercedes boss dismissed that notion however.
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“I don’t know why the gap is what it is,” Mercedes team boss Wolff said.
“I don’t know who is doing what, but I think the FIA’s further clarification makes the conditions for that more stringent. But I don’t think this had any particular effect here.”
- FIA tightens F1 oil-as-fuel restrictions
Another suggestion is that Ferrari’s alleged oil-in-fuel trick has its biggest effect in qualifying, a concpet supported by the Italian squad’s performance during its long runs in free practice.
“Our long runs on Friday were strong, so I have no particular worries about our pace,” said Sebastian Vettel.
“I think ourselves, Mercedes and Ferrari are very close,” he added.
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