Binotto: Continual checks by FIA ensured legality of Ferrari’s engine

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says that the sheer number of checks done by the FIA in 2019 has left no doubt as to the legality of the SF90H’s engine.

The Scuderia’s sudden boost in form after F1’s summer break led to increased scrutiny of the Italian squad by its rivals but more importantly by F1’s governing body and its race stewards.

Following a query by Red Bull Racing, the FIA issued two technical directives before the US and Brazilian Grands Prix that closed or clarified potential loopholes related to fuel flow and burning of oil rules.

Coincidently, Ferrari’s strength weakened after the publication of the FIA’s directives, which only increased its rivals’ suspicions about the origin of the Scuderia’s speed prior to the release of the TDs.

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But Binotto dismissed the speculation and innuendo, insisting that multiple checks of Ferrari’s engine by the stewards ensured that its superiority was not rooted in anything illicit.

“If I look at the whole season, we have been one of the most checked teams, that was before or after the technical directives,” explained Binotto, speaking last week in Maranello at Ferrari’s end-of-year media luncheon.

“And when you got a performance advantage, and certainly we got it during the whole season, we have been the most checked.

“Being checked I think it’s normal, it is somehow good because through the checks you are proving your legality.”

Binotto said that Ferrari collaborated closely with the FIA to demonstrate the legality of its unit, especially as checks ramped up after the publication of the TDs. And never changed the way it operated its engine.

“After the technical directives, the number of checks on our cars have multiplied. The reviews have been shown to the FIA, the details have been discussed.

“So whatever could have been done through collaboration with FIA has been done. We have never changed our way of operating the engine for the last part of the season, showing that somehow our power unit has full legality.

“Otherwise had that not been the case, if there would have been any non-legality, it would have come out at the very first check.”

Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri backed up Binotto’s defense of the Scuderia, stating that as a public company, Ferrari is committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity.

“Ferrari is a public company, it’s known worldwide,” said Camilleri. “Integrity and compliance is key. I think people need to factor that in when they try to look at these allegations.”