2018 Spanish Grand Prix - Catalunya, May 11-13

[mclaren111]

F1.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05LvdB4 ... r_embedded


Spanish GP highlights.

[Bill_Kar]

There is no reason in watching F1, if every shift in performance upfront (in this case Ferrari > Mercedes) is explained by cheating. Meaning that the main belief is that other cars can only perform better by having illegal things going on. Why should I watch this sport anymore then?

Of course, it can be that Ferrari actually do some tricks with their battery, but it's weird that the initial thought immediately is that they must be cheating because they are faster than Mercedes.

And don't miss the part btw. that Mercedes in fact was about to start the season with an illegal car before FIA banned something in their ICE. So it's not that they also don't try and test out the limits. Just telling because the focus is entirely set on Ferrari and no one even thinks about the possibility of a cheat from Mercedes side. As if Mercedes were the only fair guys out there being angelic in every aspect.

The difference though is that Mercedes didn't race with something illegal concerning ICE, so they didn't get any advantage.On the other hand, if Ferrari car is indeed illegal they have already raced in 4 or 5 races with it.

[ferkan]

There is no reason in watching F1, if every shift in performance upfront (in this case Ferrari > Mercedes) is explained by cheating. Meaning that the main belief is that other cars can only perform better by having illegal things going on. Why should I watch this sport anymore then?

Of course, it can be that Ferrari actually do some tricks with their battery, but it's weird that the initial thought immediately is that they must be cheating because they are faster than Mercedes.

And don't miss the part btw. that Mercedes in fact was about to start the season with an illegal car before FIA banned something in their ICE. So it's not that they also don't try and test out the limits. Just telling because the focus is entirely set on Ferrari and no one even thinks about the possibility of a cheat from Mercedes side. As if Mercedes were the only fair guys out there being angelic in every aspect.

The difference though is that Mercedes didn't race with something illegal concerning ICE, so they didn't get any advantage.On the other hand, if Ferrari car is indeed illegal they have already raced in 4 or 5 races with it.

Ferrari's "trick" still has to be confirmed to be more then a rumor, and then confirmed its actually illegal. Personally, if they are doing this, it will probably be deemed illegal. But then again Mercedes has surely been burning considerable amount of oil before 2017, when it was capped, and that was also borderline illegal (given that they burned more then 100kg's at any given moment).

[Bill_Kar]

Ferrari's "trick" still has to be confirmed to be more then a rumor, and then confirmed its actually illegal. Personally, if they are doing this, it will probably be deemed illegal. But then again Mercedes has surely been burning considerable amount of oil before 2017, when it was capped, and that was also borderline illegal (given that they burned more then 100kg's at any given moment).

OC these are rumours now. But there are so many indications that's probably truth.
As I get it, it's clear cut it's illegal, but it won't be deemed so, because there is a deal now. Probably some clarification over how many joules are permitted and how the battery system should work will be addressed by the FIA and that's it.

I get your argument over oil, but it's much more complex than that (see last year antics with oil burning after Spa, I think). But anyway this belongs to the past.
You made a point in your previous comment that I didn't answer to. Nobody in this business is angelic, nobody. There will be loopholes and illegal actions, I'm not condemning Ferrari as an organisation/company. Far from that, just happens to be the centre of attention right now.

[Phil]

There is no reason in watching F1, if every shift in performance upfront (in this case Ferrari > Mercedes) is explained by cheating. Meaning that the main belief is that other cars can only perform better by having illegal things going on. Why should I watch this sport anymore then?

The fact that they are doing that IS the reason you are still watching. If the FIA hadnt been doing this across the board, we’d still have excess oil burning and trick suspensions... in other words, a very dominant season by Mercedes, again. It really works both ways.

Historically, we’ve had EBD, cold blowing, f-duct, flexi-wings, floor bending and lots of other things. Clarifying what is and is not allowed enables teams to catch up, understand or to simply narrow the field.

Unless your issue is with the term “cheating”, but you could just as well call it use of greyzones about to clarified/closed/allowed.

[NathanOlder]

OH MY GOD.............. FERRARI BOYS!!!

What now.

Respect to those who are gracious in understanding and accepting that they thought it wrong.

Looking back at this thread it is the place of an amazing overreaction over nothing. This news has just amplified it.

And now, there is a deafening silence from the same conspiracy warriors!

Love it.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

There are typically 3 aspects that become debatable. I am relating 3 instances where Mercedes was involved in them.

1. Varying interpretation of regulations - These are things FIA accepts if they feel it's clever interpretation, but not breaking any regulations. Like the nose interpretation for 2014, which FIA felt it was clever, but then brought in revisions to regulations to stop the interpretation.

2. Breaking of regulations - Where FIA clearly deems it illegal under the light of some of the well established regulations. Like Mercedes' FRIC, which was deemed illegal in 2015 as it was aiding in aerodynamic benefits and Mercedes was asked to remove it mid-season.

3. Unregulated/Grey areas in regulations - OIl burning is a classical example. There were no particular regulations around use of oil or any other addictives to be used as fuel, which ALLEGEDLY (as there are no official confirmations from FIA or Mercedes themselves) exploited by Mercedes until last year. New regulations were brought in to then stop the teams from exploiting it.

IF Ferrari's rumored "battery trick" falls under breaking of regulations, them they are clearly breaking rules and running illegal car, if the regulations are clear on the utilization of hybrid systems. I guess no one would know it, unless there is an official report on it.

Someone argued that, oil burning was as illegal. That was an unregulated area, which was closed down with additional regulations.

[TAG]

Then again is this conversation any different than the conversations after Baku last year?

[Wynters]

Looking at the onboards from the start of the race, is Gasly in harvesting mode even before he crosses the start line?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05LvdB45hZ4#t=1m15s

[foxmulder_ms]

Is this extra power from the battery thing related to mysterious extra lever on Vettel's steering wheel??? Or Kimi had it too?

[Bill_Kar]

Is this extra power from the battery thing related to mysterious extra lever on Vettel's steering wheel??? Or Kimi had it too?

I think this is a different controversy, because I remember well that the mysterious third paddle is used mid-corner, or at least the journalists said so.

[Andres125sx]

F1.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05LvdB4 ... r_embedded


Spanish GP highlights.

Wow, Stroll onboard for Grosjean accident is scary!

[foxmulder_ms]

F1.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05LvdB4 ... r_embedded


Spanish GP highlights.

Wow, Stroll onboard for Grosjean accident is scary!

Yeah, and clearly shows what a moronic move Groj did.

[Andres125sx]

Agree, hitting the throttle while spinning to put the car in the middle of the track with 2/3 of the grid behind was clueless

[AnotherAlex]

What is the rumor?

Although Ferrari ran the car illegally, the FIA agreed to not come down on Ferrari so long as they caved on and agreed to the last-minute 2019 regulation changes (changes Ferrari were initially adamantly against).

It can't be over emphasised that as of yet there is no verifiable information in any of these reports as, unsurprisingly, no one is willing to put their name to any of the accusations.

It's reminiscent of the classic blind story typical of the (now defunct) PopBitch message board, where someone makes something up and reports it as being 'rumoured' (no names being mentioned of course, because not being true makes it libellous, but it's usually obvious who is being accused of what). Others repeat those rumours with them frequently ending up in print. All that's left is for your village geniuses to then conclude that there must be some truth to it because they've heard the rumours from a number of sources.

Now people appear to be accusing the FIA of being a bunch of blackmailers!?!

Though it wouldn't give any indication of motivation and has no bearing on the veracity of any allegations, is there a reliable report of Ferrari having removed their objection to the 2019 aero changes?
The last I read was that they, along with Red Bull and others, objected to the changes, but the changes were carried anyway because the Mercedes-engined teams and Sauber sided with the FIA and the other non-competitor representatives when it came to the vote.