FERRARI have had parts of their engines seized by the FIA following “cheat” claims, according to reports.
Suspicions have been raised by other teams after the Italian outfit’s cars started dominating straight line speeds.
Ferrari have had parts of their engine seizedCredit: EPA
And it is understood that rivals Red Bull wrote to the FIA asking for clarification regarding power units.
The FIA then issued a Technical Directive over fuel flow systems designed to give the car a power boost.
According to German motor publication AMuS, parts were taken after the Brazilian Grand Prix and an investigation will be conducted in the FIA laboratories.
If found guilty, the most serious punishment could be disqualification from the GP season.
Questions were first raised before the United States Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sensationally accused them of cheating.
Ferrari had finished on the podium in the last 13 races before the States when they produced a disappointing showing.
CHEAT ACCUSATIONS
Verstappen had suggested that Ferrari had changed their power units in the build-up to avoid anymore suspicion.
He said: “You get that when you stop cheating.
“It’s now being carefully watched, but we have to keep an eye on it.”
But Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel hit back at claims and called Verstappen immature.
The German said: “I don’t think anybody in the team took it personally.
“I think it’s not professional and not mature, but I can also see that you are probably interested in me answering back. I don’t have much interest in that, other than saying that for us, the best way to answer in a way is to probably go back to normal.
“We are not proud of how we performed in Austin on Sunday. After Saturday, nobody had the need to complain. On Sunday, I think we struggled probably with more than one thing, conditions, tyres, setup, which are things we need to work on.
“Calling it that far [cheating] I think is not right. But again, live and let live. If that’s what he thinks, that’s what he thinks. If next week he thinks something different, then, in the end, we don’t care so much.”
Both Vettel and Charles Leclerc then both failed to finish at the Brazilian GP.
Ferrari’s straight line speed was called into questionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Michael Schumacher’s son gets behind the wheel of his dad’s title-winning Ferrari ahead of Sotheby’s auction
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
