FERRARI are at the centre of a Monaco “cheat” storm.
Rival teams believe the Italian outfit may have an illegal power boost system on their cars.
And it is understood the sport’s governing body, the FIA, has ordered Ferrari to fit additional computer hardware for the Monaco Grand Prix to prevent any illegal use of F1’s Energy Recovery System.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said: “It is the obligation of teams to comply with regulations and this is an ongoing process.
“Legality topics come up regularly. Some are more controversial but it’s the daily business of the FIA to check what the teams do.
“I have great confidence with whatever issues are coming up, be it on the engine or the chassis, the FIA has been on top of it a lot.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: “There have been rumours that people are cottoning onto.
“I’m sure the FIA has all the competence to be able to measure, administer and look at the car that’s presented for scrutinising during a grand prix weekend and it is the team’s obligation to ensure that happens.”
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The ERS system is essentially a battery pack that recovers energy and redeploys it through a motor at the press of a button.
F1’s rules limit the level of the power boost but teams believe Ferrari may have found a loophole.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting does not believe Ferrari, who won the first two races and have scored three poles in a row this season, have done anything wrong.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was unfussed by the speculation, claiming it was “normal” for teams to come under scrutiny.
He said: “Obviously we heard about it but it’s normal that every now and then you have something popping up. This time it’s us, but in four weeks’ time it will be for someone else.
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“Ultimately I think it’s the FIA’s job to look after it and we trust them as much as the other teams trust them. But that’s it, it’s pretty straightforward. I think the talk is more from outside rather than stuff we discuss inside.”
Ferrari currently trail Mercedes by 27 points in the Constructors’ Championship, with Red Bull 46 further back in third.
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