F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Rival teams take aim at several details of Ferrari's SF71-H

On the back of Ferrari's successful start to its 2018 campaign, the team's SF71-H has attracted the suspicious eye of a few of its rivals.

With two wins since the season kicked off at Melbourne, the Scuderia's car has demonstrated its speed and efficiency, perhaps a bit too easily according to some.

Recently, the FIA's Nikolas Tombazis sent F1 teams a reminder of the governing body's position on exhaust blowing, while this week the FIA issued a new directive which closes a loop hole that allowed teams to enhance performance in qualifying by burning more fuel.

In both cases, it was rumored that Ferrari was perhaps the cause for the governing body's extra concern and monitoring, although the Italian outfit's SF71-H was deemed perfectly legal.

"The FIA examined the Ferrari in China and looked at drawings of the entire oil system," reported Auto Motor und Sport.

According to the German media outlet, Ferrari's main rivals are still picking on the red sqaud.

Red Bull is alleging that the specific shape of the car's rear view mirrors does not comply with the regulations, while Mercedes has expressed doubts about the clever design of Ferrari's 2018 battery cells, which may produce more than the allowed 4 mega-joules of energy.

"The topic could occupy Formula 1 in the coming weeks," said AMS correspondent Michael Schmidt.

"One possibility is that former Ferrari engine boss Lorenzo Sassi, who has been working for Mercedes since April, has been talking," mischievously added Schmidt.

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Michael Delaney

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