Ferrari 'opposed' FIA revealing details of engine deal

FIA president Jean Todt says it is not his fault the FIA has not released the details of the Ferrari engine agreement but the Scuderia blocked him.

Last year rivals raised questions about Ferrari’s engine, claiming that the power rule circumvented the FIA’s fuel flow sensors allowing the Italian stable to gain a power boost.

This led to two Technical Directives being issued at which time Ferrari lost power and pace.

The Scuderia insists to this day that there was nothing untoward about its power unit but did enter a secret agreement with the FIA to bring the matter to a close.

Rivals were not impressed.

Led by Mercedes, the seven non-Ferrari-powered teams wrote to the FIA demanding an explanation and threatening legal action if one was not forthcoming.

The FIA said no and accused the seven of tarnishing its reputation.

Todt has now told Autosport that if it was up to him, he’d reveal the details but he can’t because of Ferrari.

“If you ask me, I would love to be able to give all the details of the situation, but they [Ferrari] opposed,” explained the Frenchman.

“So, I mean, they have been sanctioned but we cannot give the detail of the sanction.

“And clearly we could have said nothing.

“But we felt that it would have been wrong not to say that the Ferrari case had been discussed and that there had been a sanction.

“Honestly, it’s very simple. Very simple. We have put so much effort to come to our conclusions, which they [the teams] do not agree.

“Unfortunately, it is very much a fait accompli of technical matters, because our technicians say ‘we cannot for sure demonstrate as much as we should that they [Ferrari] were not legal’.”

The FIA president added that he written to the teams and while they responded saying they “understand” his position, they are not happy with the lack of transparency.

Todt again said there is nothing he can do about it, it’s on Ferrari.

“I have spoken individually with some of the seven teams,” he continued.

“One of them [Mercedes] decided it was completely out of it, despite having been one of the leaders.

“Since then, I never heard about any other state of [change of heart].

“I read in the press that it was a discussion between two chairmen.

“I received a letter in answer to my letter, where they confirmed they understand the position of the FIA.

“But it didn’t mean they were happy of the position of the FIA, and they would love Ferrari to allow the visibility of the case, which I would love too. But we can’t.”

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