Ferrari Blame Email for Tyre Embarrassment

Only a matter of weeks after the FIA released e-mails supposedly proving alleged inter-team espionage was taking place in Formula One, once again the humble email is at the centre of Formula One controversy. This time it was Ferrari blaming a late email for an embarrassing tyre error this year’s rained-out Japanese Grand Prix.

According to Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari had not been told they had to start on extreme wet tyres. As a result both he and Felipe Massa were obliged to enter the pits after the race had got underway. “After the race I heard there were some rules to force everyone to start on full wets but the FIA (International Automobile Federation) or race control forgot to tell our team,” Raikkonen told the post-race news conference.

A team spokesman told Reuters they received an e-mail after the start of the race that they had to use extreme wets and were then told by radio that both drivers had to pit or be disqualified.