Full Throttle

The bodywork of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari had rival Formula 1 teams hot under their corporate collars at the Malaysian GP on Sunday. Eight of the 11 teams signed a letter to stewards before the race at Sepang warning that they would protest against the German’s car “unless suitable actions are taken ahead of the race”.

In the event there was no protest and the results were declared official. Seven-times champion Schumacher finished sixth behind Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa.

However Ferrari boss Jean Todt told reporters: “Technical director Ross Brawn has been talking to the FIA (the sport’s governing body) and it is happy about the legality of the car,”

“If there is something they want us to do we will do it. If the car was outside the rules, I don’t think we’d be talking about this result.”

The eight teams, all except Ferrari and the two owned by Red Bull whose main team uses Ferrari engines, said the upper forward element of Schumacher’s front wing was in breach of the rules.

While the Ferrari front wing was questioned in Malaysia, doubts had been raised about the rear wing at the season-opening Bahrain GP a week earlier.

“The FIA will clarify the situation before we get to Melbourne,” the Autosport website quoted Honda team boss Nick Fry as saying on Sunday.

“That’s what we need.

“It would be unfortunate if Ferrari’s interpretation is said to be right because all the other teams will have to do similar things.”

Formula One, Ferrari, Michael Schumacher, F1, FIA, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle