Ferrari call for fair play

Ferrari’s technical director Ross Brawn has called on rival teams to ensure the “spy in the cockpit” system aimed at detecting cheats in Formula One works properly.

Ferrari’s technical director Ross Brawn has called on rival teams to ensure the “spy in the cockpit” system aimed at detecting cheats in Formula One works properly.

Motor sport chiefs plan on installing an electronic device in cars from this July’s British Grand Prix onwards aimed at detecting if any team is using traction control which is being outlawed from that race.

Brawn has questioned whether FIA, the sport’s governing body, can come up with a fool-proof system by then and believes teams should help in its development.

“It is difficult to know whether by July they will have a device that they can absolutely guarantee, maybe they will, but I just know from the way we develop these things that it takes some time,” said Brawn.

“I think it is going to be much more comprehensive in terms of the data it will gather and analyse than first discussed so a lot more input is going to go into the box to enable them to make a judgement.

“The teams can help and take the view that this is not something to be discouraged, this is not something to find a way around, let’s take this concept and see if we can really make it work because it is in all our interests.

“I think if the teams help and the teams join in developing this device it can be a success.

“We believe it is essential that we avoid the suspicion and innuendo that existed prior to the legalisation of these strategies, and we are working together with the FIA to ensure satisfactory policing in the future.”

Traction control, which enables a driver to corner more easily, was outlawed before the start of the 1994 season but reintroduced during the 2001 campaign after the FIA admitted it could not adequately police the system.

But the governing body are confident the new device will enable them to detect if any team is illegally using the system – and has also offered a reward of around €1m to anybody proving that a team is cheating.

Electronic gearboxes will also be banned from Silverstone while FIA hope that launch control – which virtually guarantees a flawless start at the push of a button – can also go at the same time.

The banning of the electronic systems is aimed at putting the onus back on the driver though Ferrari’s five-time world champion Michael Schumacher has criticised the move, partly on safety grounds.

“I’m not a big fan of the rules coming in from Silverstone onwards,” said the German. “I like the electronic challenge because it allows you to get the car much closer to perfection and not have to make the compromises brought on by not using electronic systems.

“I feel that without the traction control you’ll increase the danger in the wet, the traction control is very helpful to keep the car on the road, particularly with this year’s single wet tyre rule.”

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