Ferrari had a proposal inspired from Moto GP, only to see it voted down by the FIA and fellow teams despite it having an advantage during Covid-19 times
With the coronavirus pandemic lasting longer than initially expected, it has burned a huge hold in the world economy. And this has naturally effected the automobile and sporting world too. To counter this, Ferrari had put up a proposal in place for the so-called customer teams.
What is the Moto GP-like proposal?
Formula One has a limitation to what the engine suppliers can supply to their customer teams. This means Ferrari can only supply so much to their customers Haas and Alfa Romeo. Apart from Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda and Renault are the current active engine suppliers in F1.
The customer team are expected to develop most of their parts themselves. For this, FIA has a ‘listed parts’ regulation, which lists down the parts the customers have to develop.
On the other hand, MotoGP is considerably liberal with this. Teams like Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and KTM are permitted to supply a ‘larger package’ including latest machinery. As a result, smaller teams give strong competition to the aforementioned ‘Big 4’.
Mattia Binotto argues this could have been implemented in their sport as well. “On what should be the future during the Covid period, Ferrari brought a proposal to consider customer teams. But that proposal was pushed back by the entirety of the teams and F1 and the FIA, which we fully understand.”
This would have been a brilliant strategy to take some financial burden off the smaller F1 teams, who might have to reassess their participation in the sport owing to the pandemic.
Also read: Sebastian Vettel has his say on Ferrari’s performance this season
The Racing Point ‘brake ducts’ controversy
The ongoing protests against Racing Point by Renault revolve around Binotto’s argument. Had Ferrari’s proposal been accepted, this could have potentially allowed Racing Point to directly obtain their parts from Mercedes, and not make it themselves, as per their claim.
Renault, though, believe they obtained the brake ducts from Mercedes by unfair means, and have lodged an official protest to the FIA. A decision on it is expected next month, with repercussions for the seasons ahead.
Read more: Renault lodge second protest against Racing Point
