12/08/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Formula One's 'enforced' shutdown between the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix is governed by nothing more than a gentleman's agreement, it's been revealed.
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted that, like all agreements between the teams, there is little beyond their own word that the break will be respected.
"In terms of control between the teams it's a method of relying on the people that have submitted the form to respect it," he said. "It's all like that with FOTA agreements."
During the break only essential maintenance can be carried out on the plant itself. After a long and demanding start to the year the break is warmly welcomed by the travelling hordes of mechanics and engineers, giving them a rare opportunity to relax.
Domenicali also revealed that teams are afforded the freedom to decide exactly how they honour the agreement, so long as two consecutive weeks are taken. Ferrari elected to close during the middle two weeks of the month long break. "We will have the second and third week of August closed," he said, claiming that the team would return to work the week ahead of the Belgian GP.