Ferrari’s engine is back in the spotlight again after the FIA issued another technical directive ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
While overall performance has been mixed, 2019 has seen the Scuderia hold a clear power advantage over their rivals, leading to allegations of the team using potentially illegal tricks to gain that boost.
Prior to the US GP, the governing body addressed a request for clarification from Mercedes and Red Bull regarding fuel flow, amid speculation Ferrari had found a way to bypass the limit-measuring sensors.
Coincidentally, that led to a sudden drop in performance by the Italian team in Austin particularly in race pace, although team boss Mattia Binotto insisted other factors were at play.
Now, this latest directive returns to an old favourite, the use of oil or other lubricants mixed with fuel to provide a short-term increase in performance.
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported the FIA on Wednesday as telling teams that any flammable liquid that enters the engine cooling system must not intentionally or otherwise be used for combustion purposes.
In his tweet promoting the article, reporter Tobias Gruener teased “you know which team this is aimed at”, meaning Ferrari.
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As for the size of their engine advantage, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently offered his estimate.
“It fluctuates,” he said. “What we have seen is it is up to 50bhp difference and the tendency is that it is rising.”
However, the Australian quite worryingly hinted that gap could actually be closed for 2020.
“If we take all measures that are necessary, we should be able to have a balanced competition in the power unit area again,” he added.