Fuel-gate rumbles on

Red Bull Racing put on the charm in Malaysia, arguing their case ahead of the appeal hearing for Daniel Ricciardo’s Australian Grand Prix disqualification.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was speaking to all the worlds media outlets, putting the teams spin on why they ignored calls from the FIA to make the necessary changes to be compliant with the fuel flow rules throughout the Australian Grand Prix race weekend.

The argument came in regards to the FIA homologated fuel flow sensor which the technical regulations require teams to measure the fuel-flow.

Red Bull claimed that there were inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter throughout the Australian Grand Prix weekend, which was why they ignored instructions from FIA race director Charlie Whiting which came twice after qualifying and five laps into the race, with the team asked to take the necessary steps to comply with the regulations.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner said: ‘The amount of fuel delivered did not exceed the regulatory amount, so we’re entirely confident we have a very strong case and we have a fuel sensor that is erroneous.

‘We were racing, we were pushing hard. You’re faced with a decision. Do you believe a sensor that’s reading an erroneous number and turn your engine down and concede the position you’re fighting for or do you go by the regulations and that’s what we did.’

Ricciardo was racing McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen in Australia and unsurprisingly Red Bull have received no sympathy from McLaren racing director Eric Boullier.

‘We have been told to use it, so we use it. No debate.

‘When you have two systems to measure your fuel flow, there will always be discrepancy between them. McLaren racing director Eric Boullier told the BBC.

‘If you find an interest in using system A because you find more performance, I understand you may choose this way.

‘But if in a regulated championship you are told to use B, [it’s] out of the question [not to]. We have to respect the fuel flow so we have to have a system to measure it.

‘The FIA went with the sensors and we have to respect it. Whether we change the way we measure the fuel flow is another debate.’

There also remains no sympathy from FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

‘Article 5.10 makes it quite clear in my view that the only way the fuel flow will be measured is with the homologated sensor, As you know, [British company] Gill is the only sensor that is homologated by the FIA. To me it is perfectly clear.’

The appeal will be heard at the International Court of Appeal in Paris on April 14.