Minardi questions RB9's legality after Vettel's dominant win in Singapore

Former F1 team principal Giancarlo Minardi has cast doubts over the legality of Red Bull RB9 after Sebastian Vettel dominated the Singapore Grand Prix from start to finish. The Italian believes that Red Bull are using some sort of traction control, specifically on Vettel’s car.

“From my suite, I chose some mainstays as a reference point in order to monitor and compare the drivers’ way of driving. I was impressed by Vettel’s neat way of driving on that stretch of the track. He was able to drive all that stretch without making any corrections, unlike all his rivals (also his teammate).” – Minardi told his official websiteMinardi, who ran a team with his own name for two decades between 1985 and 2005, pointed out that Vettel was able to accelerate out of corner 50m before anyone else on the grid including his teammate Mark Webber.

“Sebastian was able to speed up 50 m before any other driver, Webber included.” the Italian said.

To prove his doubt further, Minardi shifted focus to the sound of Vettel’s Renault engine which he could hear from the track. He believes the engine sound was similar when traction controls are on.

“The thing that surprised me the most was the RB1 engine’s output sound. Besides speeding up 50 m before any other driver, the Renault engine of the German’s car grinded like no other French engines on track, neither like Mark’s. That sound was similar to the sound made by the engine when the traction control system got into action in the past seasons.”

“Furthermore, that sound was only heard when Vettel chalked up his excellent performances. For example, after the safety car went off, he took a great re-start and chalked up many excellent laps, gaining a 32 sec. gap over Alonso, then he leveled off, taking precautions in the case he would have had to pit one more time. In those moments the Renault engine was more powerful than any other engines (Renault and other brands).” Minardi added.