Bernie Ecclestone agrees with Ferrari's concerns over 'dangerous' FIA move.
Bernie Ecclestone: “She (Shalia-Ann Rao) told them about the new directive, obviously!”
09:19, Sun, Jun 26, 2022
By LIAM LLEWELLYN

BERNIE Ecclestone commented on a new FIA appointment that has previous links with Mercedes. Bernie Ecclestone shared the same point of view with Ferrari regarding a new FIA appointment. Shalia-Ann Rao has been made the new interim head of Formula One at the FIA, and she is a former advisor to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. She served as the FIA's legal director from mid-2016 to the end of 2018 before joining the Silver Arrows.

The decision was made following the departure of Peter Bayer, who served as the FIA's F1 executive director since last year and secretary general for sport since 2017. An explanation for the Australian's departure has yet to be explained and nothing points to Rao’s appointment relating to the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

Therefore, Ecclestone was unhappy with the announcement, fearing there may be a conflict of interest. “It's bloody dangerous,” he said. “Toto started all this nonsense about the cars needing to change. She told them about the new directive, obviously. She worked with Toto for two or three years.

‘Bernie Ecclestone: “She (Shalia-Ann Rao) told them about the new directive, obviously!” ’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ia-Binotto-FIA


Ferrari boss hints at foul play after Mercedes develop new part.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto was left confused as to the speed of Mercedes’ turnaround of an additional floor stay ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
23 June 2022
by James Clifford

The FIA introduced a technical directive to counter "porpoising" and bouncing in Canada. Because the TD was introduced at short notice, the governing body allowed for an extra floor stay to be installed to keep the car stable, and Mercedes would show up for practice with an extra one on the car.

This would have meant a small team of mechanics flying all the way back to the UK to get them, before bringing them back, which would have taken too long, so Mercedes have kept some workers back, before bringing them out with the new parts when the TD was passed.

Binotto is not entirely convinced by this, but settles on Toto Wolff’s word that they flew some mechanics out later with the additional stays. “Toto says they did it overnight. Ferrari would not be capable of doing this,” he said. “I’m surprised that a team is so strong to manage it overnight. I can only trust what he says.”

‘Foul Play Hinted’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-b...oped-new-part/


Marko: TD ‘backfired’ on Mercedes, must solve their own issues
Date published: June 26 2022
Sam Cooper

Helmut Marko suggested Mercedes had inside information about an FIA technical directive but claims “it came back like a boomerang.” While the data was just being collected in Montreal and the rules would not be enforced until Silverstone, the lateness of the announcement meant all but one team did not have time to change their cars in line with the new regulation.

That one team was Mercedes, who raised suspicion when they appeared with a different floor during one of the practice sessions before swapping it back out. Red Bull’s Marko has suggested the team must have received inside information in order to get the replacement ready in time. “I was very surprised when I saw their floor with that second support,” Marko told the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com.

“When the technical directive came out, it was clear that there would not be enough time to supply such a part.” Marko was reportedly then asked if he believed Mercedes have inside information and he replied: “Otherwise you can’t explain what happened.” The 79-year-old also suggested that although Mercedes had been the team that had campaigned the hardest for new rules to be introduced, they may find it does not work in their favour. “It could come back like a boomerang,” he is quoted as saying.

‘Mercedes Backfiring!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/marko-...ir-own-issues/


‘It’s against the regulation’: Alpine boss warns Mercedes upgrade could be ‘protested’
The FIA began a clampdown on "porpoising" and bouncing at last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.
20 June 2022
by James Clifford

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer was not convinced by the FIA’s initial decision to allow Mercedes to run an extra stay on their car during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. A new metric was brought in last weekend to determine how much oscillating movement the cars are producing over several health concerns were raised regarding “porpoising” and bouncing.

One of the caveats of the directive was that, since it was passed at such short notice, the teams could install an extra stay on the floor to keep the car stable. According to a report by Auto Motor und Sport, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull were all wondering how and why Mercedes happened to have another one ready.

The Silver Arrows confirmed that they had left some people behind in Brackley, and they then flew out later than the rest of the team with the stays in tow. However, the fact that some teams were able to gain an advantage due to the directive was something Szafnauer had one or two queries about.

‘Wondering How Mercedes, JUST HAPPENED, to have one ready!’

https://formula1news.co.uk/its-again...-be-protested/


Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren concerned about Mercedes cheating after new upgrade unveiled
The FIA have taken measures to try and mitigate the effects of "porpoising" and bouncing.
18 June 2022
by James Clifford

Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren are all said to be bemused as to how Mercedes happened to have an extra floor stay ready, despite the new directive only being announced on Thursday. Mercedes then had an extra one ready to install on the cars of Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on Friday and, according to Michael Schmidt of Auto Motor und Sport, three teams find that rather odd.

“Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren are not only upset that the FIA is changing the rules in the middle of the season and allowing for a second underbody support, they also openly question how Mercedes had such a stay and attachments to the chassis and floor on hand in just one day,” he (Michael Schmidt of Auto Motor und Sport) said.

A Mercedes spokesperson said that the team had left some people behind at Brackley ready for a late call-out with the extra parts. “We had people who flew late to Montreal and took the material with them. Because of our problems with the ground, we were prepared for anything in terms of the stays,” they clarified.

‘Bemused how Mercedes had stay and attachments ‘on hand’ in a day!’

https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-r...rade-unveiled/


Marko makes joke about Hamilton’s back pain as he criticises the FIA
Sir Lewis Hamilton suffered back pain during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, before ending on the podium in Canada.
23 June 2022
by Rob Kershaw

Hamilton had trouble getting out of his car after finished fourth in Baku, but hopped out much more easily after ending third in Canada last weekend, so Dr Marko could not resist a jab in the ribs. “Hamilton got out of the car quickly today. When he’s on the podium, it’s a lot easier,” he joked.

Dr Marko is unhappy that his team face the possibility of being pegged back to help Mercedes, whom he believes have an easy job to do to fix the bouncing – they just do not want to do it. “I don’t think the FIA’s decisions are right,” he told Sky Germany.

“One team, Mercedes, have the biggest problems and then you react in the middle of the season. There is a simple solution: you just have to raise the car. Then you no longer have this bouncing, but you lose speed. The fact that they are now reacting in this way and trying to impose such powers on the FIA, which practically determine the set-ups of the cars, is a quick fix that has certainly not been thought through.”

‘Imposing Powers On The FIA’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/marko-mak...cises-the-fia/