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Ferrari admits to exposing illegal tyres of rivals to FIA
Rome, Sept 04: Ferrari`s technical director Ross Brawn has admitted it was the Italian team who blew the whistle on formula one rivals Williams and Mclaren for their alleged use of illegal Michelin tyres.
Rome, Sept 04: Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn has admitted it was the Italian team who blew the whistle on formula one rivals Williams and Mclaren for their alleged use of illegal Michelin tyres.
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix last month, the sport's governing body (FIA) said it had received information that Michelin's front tyres could be in breach of regulations.
"It was us who told the FIA at the end of the race that their treads were too big - we are not going to accept losing this way anymore," Brawn was quoted as saying in yesterday's Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Asked what advantage a wider tread gave to a car, Brawn said: "It gives a better balance to the front of the car when braking because of the distribution of weight, making it more efficient on the bends."
Brawn said Ferrari went to the FIA after Bridgestone came into the possession of some pictures taken in the paddock by a Japanese photographer in Budapest.
"They showed that the front Michelin tyres had an excessively large tread so we went to see Charlie Whiting (the race director)," said the 48-year-old Englishman.
"Then we sent the famous letter on the basis of the measurements and photos. We could have done nothing, not informed the FIA and then made a complaint at the next race, but that didn't seem like the right thing to do."
Bureau Report
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix last month, the sport's governing body (FIA) said it had received information that Michelin's front tyres could be in breach of regulations.
"It was us who told the FIA at the end of the race that their treads were too big - we are not going to accept losing this way anymore," Brawn was quoted as saying in yesterday's Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Asked what advantage a wider tread gave to a car, Brawn said: "It gives a better balance to the front of the car when braking because of the distribution of weight, making it more efficient on the bends."
Brawn said Ferrari went to the FIA after Bridgestone came into the possession of some pictures taken in the paddock by a Japanese photographer in Budapest.
"They showed that the front Michelin tyres had an excessively large tread so we went to see Charlie Whiting (the race director)," said the 48-year-old Englishman.
"Then we sent the famous letter on the basis of the measurements and photos. We could have done nothing, not informed the FIA and then made a complaint at the next race, but that didn't seem like the right thing to do."
Bureau Report