Ferrari smoke won't have Whiting banning anything

Charlie Whiting has said that he is not going to do anything regarding Niki Lauda’s complaints about Ferrari’s start-up process.

The Ferrari car releases a lot of smoke when it is started up, which infiltrates Lauda’s Mercedes garage, as the two title rival teams are next door to each other in the pitlane.

Smoking upon start-up is a sign of a car that uses too much oil, which is against the rules.

Lauda has suggested that it should be investigated, saying: “We suffocate every time they start it,” he said. “The FIA should look into it.”

However, Whiting has said that nothing will be done, as tests have been carried out to check whether the SF71-H is breaking the rules, and they have found that the engine is not consuming more oil than the rules allow.

Whiting believes it is just a problem to do with Ferrari’s oil breather: “I’m sure they’ll sort it out,” he added.

Ferrari have had a good start to the season, winning the first two races, although inconsistency sees them sit one point behind Constructors’ Championship leaders Mercedes.