Ferrari tells Mercedes to ‘lose with dignity’
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz ahead of Lewis Hamilton at the Barcelona circuit. Spain May 2022
As Formula 1 prepares for a showdown over proposed regulation tweaks for the 2023 season, Piero Ferrari has told Mercedes to lose with “dignity”.
Porpoising is the buzz word for 2022, the all-new cars bouncing around as a consequence of using ground effect aerodynamics to create downforce.
It is this porpoising that has Formula 1’s three big teams at loggerheads – Ferrari and Red Bull versus Mercedes.
The latter suffers with extreme porpoising, more than any other team, and has pushed the FIA hard to change the rules to minimise the bouncing claiming it is for the safety of the drivers.
Ferrari staunchly disagree with that argument as do Red Bull, both believing Mercedes just want the FIA to fix a problem they can’t resolve themselves, the Brackley squad winless this season.
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has reported stated that the Scuderia will protest if the FIA presses ahead with plans to tweak next year’s regulations.
Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari also had a dig at Mercedes at the same time.
“We will assert our reasons, we will oppose any exploitation,” scuderiafans.com quotes him as having told Italian journalist Leo Turrini.
“For years, Ferrari had an engine deficit against Mercedes, but we did not ask for any favours or shortcuts.
“We lost with dignity, working in silence to recover, our opponents should also behave like this, don’t you think?”
Mercedes came to the fore when Formula 1 introduced the current spec hybrid turbocharged engine, stringing together a run of seven successive championship doubles from 2014 to 2020.
Last season they again won the Constructors’ Championship although the Drivers’ title went the way of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
This season Mercedes are not in the running for either title, Red Bull topping both championships despite it being said that Ferrari have the most powerful engine on the grid.
Their downfall has been its reliability.
Despite that Ferrari says that as a “company we are proud of what our racing department has achieved so far.
“We were coming out of a difficult period and now we have a car that is competitive at every track.
“Of course there are things to fix and details to perfect but this Ferrari is very competitive.
“Of course, I would like to win more often so it would be nice to reverse the poles we have so far – eight – with the wins we have at the chequered flag. So far that’s four – just half.
“But we are on the right path.”
Ferrari are second in both standings, Charles Leclerc 63 points behind Max Verstappen, while Ferrari trail Red Bull by 82 points.
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