FIA aims for wind tunnel ruling before Abu Dhabi race

The FIA says it will try to make a ruling on the issue regarding wind tunnel and CFD use in Formula 1 before the race on Sunday, following the clarification request made by Mercedes ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

(L to R): Niki Lauda, Mercedes Non-Executive Chairman with Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T in the pits

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W06 in the pits

As reported earlier, Mercedes has written to the FIA stewards to seek clarity about the regulations to check what is and is not allowed under the rules.

Their issue has come in the wake of concerns that Ferrari may have benefited from extra wind tunnel time that could have been accessible to it through its technical collaboration with Haas.

Motorsport.com revealed in May that the FIA had given Ferrari the all-clear about its wind tunnel use following an inspection by F1 Technical and Sporting Co-ordinator Marcin Budkowski.

However, that has not stopped teams believing that Ferrari may have been able to gain an advantage through tying up with a team that was not bound with the current aerodynamic regulations.

Arden and AMG entries

Motorsport.com has learned that earlier this year, Mercedes and Red Bull enquired with the FIA about potential limits they would face if they formed partnerships with theoretical new teams.

In this case, the examples of a new AMG outfit and an Arden outfit were suggested.

Although neither F1 team was serious about its intentions to see the teams in to F1, they wanted to use their examples as a way of getting clarity over what was and was not allowed.

In its submission to the FIA, Mercedes has made it clear that the issue is of utmost importance to it because of the scope it could have to tie-up with another outfit.

“Resolution of the ambiguities is of the utmost importance to Mercedes as it is currently considering the possibility of collaborating with third parties on its testing programme,” said the note.

“Including the sharing of staff and knowledge, which it believes could be permitted under the current Regulations as drafted.

“It is understood by Mercedes that other Formula 1 teams may also be considering operating in a similar manner.”

Mercedes has already spoken to the stewards, and the FIA is accepting written submissions from teams today. There will also be a special hearing at 4pm to hear from other interested parties.