Verstappen on Ferrari's US pace: 'That's what you get when you stop cheating'
- Published on 03 Nov 2019 23:37
-
- By: Fergal Walsh
Max Verstappen wasn't surprised that Ferrari lacked race pace in Austin, stating that it is "what happens" when the team stops cheating.
After the return following the summer break, Ferrari took six consecutive pole positions and three race wins, while holding an advantage in straight-line speed throughout the entire season.
On the build to up to the US Grand Prix weekend, a technical directive was issued to all the teams after Red Bull brought a question to the FIA regarding a potential fuel system solution, which was deemed to be not legal.
Sebastian Vettel dropped out early with a broken rear suspension in the US, while Charles Leclerc was unable to keep up with the pace of the front runners throughout the race and finished fourth.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport about Ferrari's pace in Austin, Verstappen said: "That's what you get when you have to stop cheating. This has been looked at very carefully, so of course we have to keep an eye on that.
Verstappen revealed after the race that he had reasonable damage to his floor. "When I looked after the race, there was a lot of damage to the rear wheel.
"That's a very sensitive part of course, so I can understand why we had so much oversteer. Too bad you don't know that until after the race, but during the race I was able to keep up with the Mercedes. They only walked away with two, three tenths of a second every lap."
Verstappen crossed the line in third place, bagging his seventh podium of the 2019 season.
2
Replies (16)
Login to replyf1ski
Posts: 726
Max should be more careful with his words. I think if they are cheating Ferrari is just copying something they feel Mercedes is doing. Mercedes has more power than Ferrari. Ferrari has not got the grip. I think also Ferrari has spent their engines and now they have to dial it back.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Interesting to see the comments on this topic. It looks like most people agree with you. This is just high school type stuff most people outgrow before their 20s.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Damn Max, so savage. That being said, something definitely changed. Something significant.
ianf1
Posts: 185
Whether he's right or wrong, Max's comment made me laugh.
Mansell
Posts: 104
Putting his foot in it again,
needs to shut up and focus on driving then sticking his nose in where its not wanted
also realise that if red bull or honda are found to cheat this will bite him in the well you now where
abhidbgt
Posts: 283
Would very much like for the truth to come out. This is quite a big allegation.
abhidbgt
Posts: 283
So, is FIA a blind entity?
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
No. But, Max knows more than FIA.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Redbull perhaps affected more than the others by Ferrari this year, being the reason for these bxxthurt comments :)
xoya
Posts: 583
Being blunt as ever.
If Alonso was too good at playing politics, Verstappen is on the other end of the spectrum.
JuJuHound
Posts: 352
I thought he is a man but it seems he is just a small kid, a feral kid.
This is now the way FIA wants this thing coming out. Just look - this Ferrari additional power after summer break was strange, but it's is possible FIA needed "more time" to handle that case to make the show better. And yes it was better to see not Mercedes winning the races. These things with illegal cars are happening since F1 started so this is nothing new. Good it was fixed and I cannot say I like it but I understand why FIA could do it. Anyway, if this is true.... Ferrari pace is awfull
f1ski
Posts: 726
it started with the renault penalty for exceeding fuel flow. the next race MB wasn't quite as fast in party mode . more details arise and now ferrari os off pace. But back after the summer break ended I remember Ferrari made a comment that they were dialing it up and didn't really care about longevity. MB has the ultimate secret for more power from the hybrid. First it was using the turbo for continuous electrical output when the other teams were frozen in their designs. Then it was letting oil from the lubrication system leak to coat the cylinder and pistons so they could really lean it out to increase power without burning the metal components. Ferrari figured that out but were called out with how they were accomplishing that. This fuel reservoir increase fuel flow is genius and I think it is a MB idea that everyone but honda is using.
My feeling is let them do what they want with the engine take the ceiling off fuel flow give them 10% more fuel put a real cap on RPM not an artificial one based on fuel flow which is easier to cheat. Let the teams use the fuel as they want what would be more thrilling than Leclerc and Verstappen chasing down the MB only gaining .1 sec a lap only to have them suddenly race past as the MB run out of fuel.
Right now the cars are at the limit of the performace envelopes with efficiency aero
adhesion its hard to be much faster but if you can blast past someone then try to hold them off now it becomes more of a strategy game increasing the excitement of the racing
essaouira311
Posts: 158
An idiot is always an idiot.
Pistonhead
Posts: 556
Breath of fresh air - should welcome it.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I don't feel his comment hold much weight. In part since it comes from him, in part since Ferrari still were pretty rad down the straights, it was cornering they had issues with. If they did get a decline in power, it was probably miniscule.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Both Merc and RBR said the same thing though combined with the directive it makes it obvious that Ferrari was doing something illegal. As I understand it they were interfering with the flow sensor. If the latter is correct than Ferrari is gaining by cheating. Ferrari already gets away with too much within F1 and it doesn't surprise me that the FIA hasn't punished them.