Breaking news
Formula 1
Ferrari's top speed reduction "clear" in Austin - Honda
Honda Formula 1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe says it is "clear" Ferrari had a reduced speed advantage at the United States Grand Prix but is cautious of drawing premature conclusions.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Nov 6, 2019, 4:55 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ferrari was at a loss to explain its lack of race pace last weekend, but defended itself aggressively as some – including Red Bull driver Max Verstappen – suggested its reduced qualifying performance was a result of an FIA technical directive regarding fuel-flow legalities.
Charles Leclerc was running an older-spec, high-mileage Ferrari engine in qualifying and the race and team boss Mattia Binotto said a set-up experiment had also reduced its top speed.
Read Also:
- Ferrari explains dip in straightline speed at Austin
- Leclerc hits back at Verstappen's Ferrari allegations
Whatever the reason, Tanabe told Motorsport.com that the performance of the Ferrari on the straights was not as mighty compared to Red Bull-Honda as before.
"We cannot separate the chassis drag and the engine performance," said Tanabe. "When we look at only speed, the gap between Ferrari and ours is closer than in previous races.
"That's clear. [But] we don't know if that came from only the engine or the chassis. Their race pace was not as strong as previous races. It means the package was different or not sufficient for this track.
"I don't know. But we see the difference in top speed."
The controversy around the technical directive was a result of an enquiry from Red Bull to the FIA about fuel-flow sensor systems and possible ways of subverting the rules to get a power boost.
Red Bull had written to the FIA requesting clarification over fuel-flow meter signal filtering, and been told that three scenarios it had outlined would not be legal, which meant all teams were notified in the form of a technical directive.
The likes of Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton linked to Ferrari's drop in performance to the FIA's response, but Tanabe warned against drawing conclusions from one isolated race.
"We need to have data from Brazil and Abu Dhabi," said Tanabe. "Then we will find out something. Otherwise we cannot tell only from this race."
Read Also:
- Dislodged switch cover caused Hamilton's Q3 slump in Austin
- McLaren admits F1 pitstops 'not at top teams level'
Verstappen qualified third at the Circuit of the Americas and finished there after a late yellow flag stopped him attacking the second Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
It completed a strong North American double-header for Red Bull and Honda, as Verstappen had qualified fastest in Mexico but had his race ruined by an early incident with Hamilton and then a puncture.
Tanabe was surprised by the extent of the Red Bull-Honda's performance in Mexico, and admitted in the US that "again, I didn't expect such a [close] qualifying time and Max on the second row".
"The gap between the top runners got closer before the summer break and then Ferrari improved a lot after the summer," said Tanabe.
"Now, it's getting closer, all three teams. But I don't know about the rest of the season.
"Brazil, and Abu Dhabi, we will see the performance of the package and our competitiveness against Mercedes and Ferrari."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Raikkonen: I might as well be last if I’m 11th
Next article McLaren admits F1 pitstops 'not at top teams level'
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
29 min
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe