Ferrari reverts to off-track weapons for Red Bull battle

Ferrari’s frantic push for the 2012 title has spilled into the world of paperwork, media reports from the scene of the Abu Dhabi grand prix have proved.

First, the Italian team has managed to convince the FIA that it is playing by the rules despite using two of its ‘curfew’ wild cards in a single race weekend at Yas Marina.

The rules say mechanics and engineers are not allowed to work on the cars within certain timeframes at the grands prix, but Ferrari has already used two of its four exceptions for the season in Abu Dhabi.

Previously, it was understood teams could only use a maximum of one exception per weekend.

Meanwhile, it emerged earlier on Saturday that Ferrari wrote to the FIA to ask about an oil system aboard Sebastian Vettel’s ever-dominant RB8 car.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport now has the details.

The publication said the FIA has told Ferrari that Red Bull’s system is legal, even though the Italian team suspected its rival was using fluid levels in an oil tank for weight distribution purposes.

Auto Motor und Sport said Ferrari earlier this week also asked the FIA about an apparently ingenious brake cooling system on the RB8.

Technical boss Pat Fry reportedly wanted to know if two different metal materials, with different thermal expansion creating a ‘column’ for cooling, can be used.

© RIF | GMM