Ferrari Formula One wrongdoing could not be proven say the FIA

Ferrari

Ferrari wrongdoing could not be proven say the FIA

FIA respond to team protests

Sam Hall

Thursday 5 March 2020 14:13

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The FIA have issued a statement in a direct response to the saying that they had been unable to prove an 'unequivocal evidence of a breach' of regulations.

According to the statement released on Thursday by the FIA, a settlement had been agreed so as not to continue to draw out the investigation process.

"The FIA has conducted detailed technical analysis on the Scuderia Ferrari Power Unit as it is entitled to do for any competitor in the FIA Formula One World Championship," reads the FIA statement.

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"The extensive and thorough investigations undertaken during the 2019 season raised suspicions that the Scuderia Ferrari PU could be considered as not operating within the limits of the FIA regulations at all times. The Scuderia Ferrari firmly opposed the suspicions and reiterated that its PU always operated in compliance with the regulations.The FIA was not fully satisfied but decided that further action would not necessarily result in a conclusive case due to the complexity of the matter and the material impossibility to provide the unequivocal evidence of a breach.

"To avoid the negative consequences that a long litigation would entail especially in light of the uncertainty of the outcome of such litigations and in the best interest of the Championship and of its stakeholders, the FIA, in compliance with Article 4 (ii) of its Judicial and Disciplinary Rules (JDR), decided to enter into an effective and dissuasive settlement agreement with Ferrari to terminate the proceedings.

"This type of agreement is a legal tool recognised as an essential component of any disciplinary system and is used by many public authorities and other sport federations in the handling of disputes.

"The confidentiality of the terms of the settlement agreement is provided for by Article 4 (vi) of the JDR."

The statement ended with a hint that the FIA could take legal action against the protesting teams in order to protect their own reputation, saying, "The FIA will take all necessary action to protect the sport and its role and reputation as regulator of the FIA Formula One World Championship."