F1 News: Mercedes-Ferrari Rivalry Revs Up, Both Question Each Other's Car Legality

The Mercedes–Ferrari battle is beginning to get more intense as the 2018 Formula 1 season progresses with their on-track rivalry spilling off-track, with both teams now questioning the integrity of each other’s cars.

The Silver Arrows team is currently 15 points ahead of the Italian team in the Constructors’ championship, while Lewis Hamilton is ahead of Sebastian Vettel by 17 points in the Drivers’ championship. Mercedes have been the dominant force in F1 for the last four seasons, with no team able to match them in terms of pure performance. Ferrari did mount a small challenge in 2017, but faded away in the second half of the campaign for two reasons. First, their car was nowhere in comparison to the Mercedes in terms of speed and second, they suffered multiple reliability issues.

However, 2018 has seen the Italian team mount a more credible challenge and they are now going toe-to-toe with the Mercedes team on all race tracks. Such has been their progress that it is widely accepted in the paddock that Ferrari currently have the fastest car on the grid.

The power unit on the Ferrari has them beating the Mercedes in straight line speed, which was unheard of in the last four seasons, and now has the reigning champions questioning the integrity of the Ferrari engine. The FIA were notified and made their own checks before giving the Italian outfit a clean chit.

Hamilton again seemed to question it after the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday by suggesting Ferrari have a few tricks in their car, but quickly clarified his comments during the post-race press conference. The FIA via Charlie Whiting again clarified it was happy with the challengers’ power unit and admitted Mercedes simply have to counter Ferrari’s recent progress.

"I'm quite amused about it really because we know quite a lot about Ferrari's car and there is no way Lewis would know about anything about the Ferrari car," Whiting said, as per ESPN. “They are doing a good job at the moment and Mercedes have got to try to counter that, haven't they?"

"Well that particular comment doesn't actually say anything. If he says they have got a few tricks going on in that car then clearly they have got things going on in that car that are giving it performance, which we are all aware of - when I say all, I mean us in the FIA - and obviously we are happy with it."

Ferrari have joined the bandwagon and have raised questions about the flexibility of Mercedes’ rear wing. Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene admitted they had noticed it, but made it clear it was the FIA’s job to investigate it further.

A comparison of the rear wings of different cars was made on Sky Italy during the qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday and questions were raised about the Mercedes rear wing which was flexing a little too much as the cars went over the bus stop chicane.

“That’s the FIA’s job, not ours,” Arrivabene said when asked if they will take the matter further, as quoted n Planet F1. “We are already busy to answer to all the questions they ask us every race. But yes, we noticed it. Let’s see if also the FIA will notice it.”

Vettel will have a chance to further reduce his gap when the teams arrive in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. It is also a chance for Mercedes to respond after being well beaten in Belgium and get one over their arch rivals at their home race.