Ferrari slammed as ex-F1 team boss criticises leaders for allowing rule change

22 March 2023 , 21:49

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Ferrari have been criticised by Flavio Briatore (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore has hit out at Ferrari for not stopping the FIA from implementing a technical regulation change ahead of the new season.

After providing the closest competition for Red Bull last season, Ferrari were hoping to build on that this year after axing team principal Mattia Binotto and replacing him with Fred Vasseur.

However, after just two races of the new season Ferrari are yet to secure a podium finish and currently sit fourth in the Constructors' Championship standings. And Briatore, who won four F1 world titles during his time involved in the sport, believes the new floor changes introduced to combat porpoising are to blame for Ferrari's struggles.

Initially, the FIA wanted to raise floor edges by 25mm, but a compromise of 15mm was eventually agreed upon. And Briatore believes Ferrari "shouldn't have let the regulation change" as "last year they had an advantage" over their rivals.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Radio Rai, he said: "We've known Ferrari for years, it's not that something extraordinary happened this year, it's a bit what happened before. The 2022 season started very well, but then the Federation changed the regulations due to the bouncing problem.

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"If it had been me leading Ferrari, I would not have allowed the rules to change. Ferrari's political actions must be incisive, last year they had an advantage and they shouldn’t have let the regulation change."

Briatore has slammed Ferrari chiefs (Photo by Pascal Della Zuana/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

He also slammed Ferrari for 'confusing the fans' and raising their expectations ahead of the new season, adding: "In winter Ferrari is always a candidate to win the World Championship and then things don't go that way.

"I heard statements during the presentation with some of the executives saying: 'Never seen a Ferrari so fast', but all this stuff confuses the fans. I saw their anger on Instagram, because you don’t have to promise, you have to do the first race and see what happens.

"Now they all have this expectation that Ferrari is forced to win the World Championship. Unfortunately there are other teams who have worked better, making up for this gap is very, very difficult. Expectations are always too high compared to reality."

Matthew Cooper