In 2019, Ferrari and the FIA became the talk of the paddock due to a power unit that seemed to provide the Scuderia with a significant top-speed advantage. This raised suspicions among rival teams, especially in the second half of the season, when the Italian team appeared unbeatable on straights. The suspicions focused on possible technical irregularities, leading to formal clarification requests from competitors like Red Bull and Mercedes.
To address the doubts, the FIA introduced a sensor to monitor the fuel flow that each team must adhere to. However, it was suspected that Ferrari had found a way to bypass this sensor, allowing more fuel to be injected into the cylinders at specific moments, thereby increasing engine power. Some also speculated that Ferrari was using oil additives to improve combustion and further enhance performance. This practice, too, would be against the regulations.
The FIA’s intervention and the new technical directives
Toward the end of 2019, the FIA issued several technical directives to clarify the rules and close potential loopholes exploited by Ferrari. One directive, issued before the United States GP, required teams to ensure that fuel flow complied with the imposed limits at all times, eliminating the possibility of bypassing the sensor. After this directive, Ferrari’s performance appeared to drop slightly, further fueling suspicions.
The confidential agreement between Ferrari and the FIA
At the end of the season, the FIA conducted an in-depth investigation into Ferrari’s engine. However, no conclusive evidence of irregularities was found. Consequently, the FIA and Ferrari reached a confidential agreement, the contents of which were never disclosed. This agreement sparked controversy in the paddock, with many rival teams accusing the FIA of a lack of transparency.
In 2020, Ferrari experienced a dramatic drop in performance. This was mainly attributed to the changes the Scuderia had to make to the engine to ensure full compliance with FIA regulations. The SF1000, the 2020 car, proved uncompetitive both in terms of power unit performance and aerodynamic efficiency. The team struggled throughout the season, finishing sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, their worst result since 1980.
The entire affair significantly impacted Ferrari’s reputation, which came under scrutiny from both fans and rivals. Many perceived the confidential agreement as a tacit admission of guilt, despite the lack of definitive proof. Moreover, the loss of competitiveness in 2020 further tarnished the Scuderia’s image, which only began to recover in 2022 with the resurgence brought by the F1-75.
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