Domenicali ‘dumbstruck’ by F1 ‘hypocrisy’

Stefano Domenicali has lashed out at the hypocrisy in F1 after Ferrari were found guilty of use team orders and accused of running an illegal front wing. In recent weeks, Ferrari have made headlines for several of the wrong reasons. The first was their blatant use of team orders in the German GP where the Scuderia ordered Felipe Massa to move over and hand the victory to his team-mate Fernando Alonso. The Italian outfit was slapped with a $100,000 fine by the race stewards and will now have to face the World Motor Sport Council on 8th September where they could be stripped of their German GP points or even banned.

That, though, hasn't be the only controversy facing the team as they have also been accused of running illegal front wings. According to McLaren, both Ferrari and Red Bull have wings that flex beyond the legal limit, allowing them greater downforce and better speed. And although the FIA did checks on the wings at the German GP, declaring them legal, motorsport's governing body is now set to introduce more stringent testing at the Belgian GP as the debate refuses to die down.

"I was dumbstruck to see so much hypocrisy in our world, but I don't want to add anything else: there will just be more work to do; who knows it might be an added distraction for some," the team boss told Ferrari's official website.

The introduction of Ferrari's new front wing also saw the Scuderia begin to make up ground in both title races with Alonso now just 20 points off the pace in the Drivers' Championship while the team trails Red Bull by just 74 points in the Constructors' battle.

"I have to say I was very pleased with the way our team reacted at a point in the season when the results were just not coming. The second half of July went very well and I hope it has given the right impetus for the final part of the season.

"We know there is much to do, because we still do not have the best car, but this should simply be a further incentive. We said it with Fernando a few days ago: if we manage to always be there, in the top places, then we can get satisfaction."

For now, though, the Italian team is on holiday after the two-week long factory shut for the summer break is enforced in F1. But just because they are not working, Domenicali says that doesn't mean F1 is not on the mind. "We will be on holiday, but that does not mean our brains will stop working," he said.

"Maybe one can even find fresh inspiration when outside the normal working environment and I expect this time to be a fertile one for ideas, which when all is said and done, are what make the difference." Planet F1