Ferrari told to stop covering on-board camera

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By Ross Dawson

Published Sep 7, 2018

Other teams have grown suspicious over the practice

Much like most sports, in Formula 1, teams are determined to do whatever they can to get the edge over their opponents.The F1 season can be a long, gruelling year of high-octane action, putting a team's pit crew to the test in ensuring their car remains in top notch condition.One of the sport's most historic and prestigious teams is Ferrari, having housed legends of the sport such as Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, and Fernando Alonso.This year, the team’s star driver Sebastian Vettel sits second in the F1 standings, just 30 points behind Lewis Hamilton in first.However, one tactic seen implemented by their pit crew has caused much intrigue in the last several races.The crew has been seen covering the car’s camera with a bag of dry ice during pit-stops and when the car is at the grid before races.Ferrari claim this is to keep to car’s onboard camera and electronics cool. However, other teams have conjured theories over the team’s real motives.They believe the team is using the ice bag to hide the car’s steering wheel and other settings from the cameras.This caused F1 director Charlie Whiting to investigate the matter, though nothing initially came of it.Now, however, the FIA have ordered Ferrari to stop covering their cameras with ice bags completely.A spokesperson said: “We did ask Ferrari to stop using these ice packs," per Motorsport.“The main reason was that FOM was not happy with them doing it.“The issue is one of internal ECU temperature which the FIA will continue to monitor with FOM.”