Last summer Ferrari rejected a proposal at the F1 Commission to delay the start lights coming on to alleviate concerns about potential risks of cars stopping on the grid.
This was because team principal Fred Vasseur had warned about the need to make such a change many months before, but his concerns had been dismissed by others.
As a result, Ferrari set about creating its engine concept around one that would be more suitable for a short start sequence, so it would not need the turbo spun up for so long.
So when those that had not made the same compromises with their engine design suddenly came back with demands to extend the start sequence, Vasseur felt he was well within his rights to not support something that could potentially benefit others who had not heeded his earlier worries.
And he’s right. Unfortunately being right doesn’t mean anything in F1, though. When Alfa Romeo was the only one under the weight limit they changed it. Ironically enough it was Vassuer working at Alfa Romeo at the time who complained about other teams playing games with the weight limit.
And he’s right. Unfortunately being right doesn’t mean anything in F1, though. When Alfa Romeo was the only one under the weight limit they changed it. Ironically enough it was Vassuer working at Alfa Romeo at the time who complained about other teams playing games with the weight limit.