The FIA will investigate Ferrari for a new removable cooling device that may intentionally block the camera. Ferrari was previously warned about covering the camera with a bag of dry ice, due to complaints from rival teams and the commercial rights holder FOM.
The Italian team was warned by the FIA prior to the Italian Grand Prix to stop attaching a bag filled with dry ice to the onboard camera. The FIA cited complaints from rival teams who feel that Ferrari was intentionally using the bag to block the view of their car’s steering wheel settings in the garage and on the grid. The FIA also discussed the issue with FOM, who was unhappy with the treatment of the camera, pressuring the FIA to stop the practice.
The team instead used umbrellas to block the cockpit from the camera, proving to many that the bag’s primary purpose was not to cool the camera, as the team insisted.
At the Singapore Grand prix, Ferrari debuted a brand-new removable device. The team claims that the primary purpose of the device is to feed air into the airbox, but some believe that the ducts running off of the side of the device have been crafted to intentionally block the camera view.
The FIA has not yet seen the device in action, with Charlie Whiting having only expected the device while it was off of the car after the free practice session. However, the FIA will be investigating the new device in more detail and will be discussing it with FOM, to ensure that the device does not block the camera view.
