03/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Understandably, following claims made by Gian Carlo Minardi at the weekend, the superiority of Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull in Singapore was the talk of the paddock in Korea today.
The Italian veteran, though at pains not to accuse anyone of anything, claimed that the pace of the German's car, especially following the withdrawal of the Safety Car, and the unique sound it was making was just a little suspicious.
Though initially cautious the media has gradually picked up on the story, Italy's legendary Autosprint posting a video, shot from roughly where Minardi had watched the Singapore race, which gives the claim some credence. Indeed, the magazine even accompanies the video with the headline 'Vettel's Secret'.
Speaking at the Korea International circuit today, Vettel was keen to play down the speculation before it snowballs.
"We were playing around quite a lot with it in practice, the first time it worked was in the race." he told reporters, referring to what is believed to be an engine mapping system that essentially mimics the characteristics of an exhaust blown diffuser.
"We are pretty proud of the system we have because other people will never figure out how we've done it," he added with a grin. "Constantly we try to improve the car. It is part of the homework we have to do."
Aware of initial speculation that the system was some form of (illegal) traction control, he played up to the situation.
"Since traction control will not matter so much we should probably struggle a little bit more," he joked, "but I think we should still have a strong package."
At the official press conference, Lewis Hamilton was a little more sceptical.
"If you look at the onboard, he is on the power full throttle at least twenty metres before anyone else, which is a huge advantage," he moaned. "The last time I was able to put the pedal down that quick was back in 2007 or 2008, when we had traction control."
Fernando Alonso sees it slightly differently.
"They are using something different compared to the other teams but something that is completely OK," said the Spaniard. "They pass all the checks every race so it's up to us to do a better job.
"Maybe it's more obvious in Singapore because it is a street circuit and people can watch in the corners," he continued, "but if you go to winter test, in Barcelona, we were in corners following the test session and the Red Bull was a different sound.
"It's true when you find a Red Bull you see they are faster than you in the corners but this also happens with other cars and we don't say anything, like Mercedes. Hamilton was pole position in Hungary and winning easy, same feeling. All the things are good, it is up to us to do a better job."
Clearly tired at what some in the media clearly want to be another 'gate', Christian Horner was keen to kill off the story before it gathers any further momentum.
"The setting in both cars were absolutely identical, and they fully comply with the FIA rules," he told reporters. "So any suggestion of traction control is purely either mischievous on behalf of the others, or wishful thinking.
"You would be fairly stupid to introduce traction control on to a car which is governed on a single ECU that is through a tender of the FIA and that is scrupulously checked by the FIA," he added. "I cannot image any team in the pit lane would do it.
"The problem is Sebastian's performance was so dominant in Singapore it will inevitably raise questions as to how it was possible. Other teams will be looking inwardly, and the easiest conclusion to come to is 'They must be cheating', but these things are so tightly controlled it is impossible. The facts are he drove an incredible race in Singapore, he had incredible pace. He maximised the most out of the car, and was a driver at absolute peak form.
"Is it a distraction? No," he concluded. "Will we lose any sleep over it? Absolutely not."
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