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Ferrari are being investigated by Formula One’s governing body following allegations that they have broken the rules this season.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton’s closest championship challenger, won the opening two rounds of the season, and rival teams believe the Italians have been gaining an unfair advantage by deploying more engine power than is permitted.
The FIA has been monitoring the situation from as early as the first races in Australia and Bahrain, and on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix, it has demanded that Ferrari run a device on their engine to ensure they are sticking to the law book.
F1 confirmed the news on their website on Thursday evening, writing: “The governing body have asked Ferrari to run an extra piece of hardware that monitors their Energy Recovery System.
“This weekend, the FIA will monitor the system in operation before analysing data and making any judgements.”
A spokesperson for the Italian team said in Monaco: “Ferrari does not comment on speculation.”
Suspicions over alleged foul play gathered pace during last month’s Chinese Grand Prix after Vettel and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen secured the team’s second consecutive front-row lockout.
Vettel was more than half-a-second clear of the Mercedes cars at a track in which, up until this season, the German constructor had dominated.
Vettel was again on pole at the following race in Azerbaijan. It is understood that at this point all four of the grid’s engine suppliers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Renault – were asked to provide schematics of their engine layouts to the FIA.
Ferrari’s systems were probed in Baku and also at the last round in Spain. Hamilton dominated the Barcelona race as Mercedes returned to their all-conquering best.
“Any race in which grey areas remain grey can be a lost race,” Niki Lauda, Mercedes non-executive chairman said. “The FIA has to clarify these unanswered questions by the next race in Monte Carlo.”
Speaking after practice on Thursday, Vettel, who trails Hamilton by 17 points in this year’s championship race, played down the FIA investigation.
“Obviously we have heard about it,” Vettel said.
“It is normal that every now and again you have something that pops up, and then there are rumours and this time is about us.
“It is the FIA’s job to look after everyone. We trust them as much as the other teams trust them to do their job. For us it is pretty straightforward. It is more outside talk.”
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, for whom Australian Daniel Ricciardo drives, said they were happy to leave the matter in the hands of the FIA.
“I’m sure that the FIA have all the competence to be able to able to measure, administer and look at the car that’s presented for scrutineering and during a grand prix weekend, ” Horner said.
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