Hamilton should leave questions about Ferrari ‘tricks’ to those in charge

For the overall scheme of the championship, it would be hugely significant for Sebastian Vettel to beat Lewis Hamilton and win Ferrari’s home race tomorrow. Right now, you feel as if the tide is running Ferrari’s way, but how many times have we seen things turn this year?

We are watching captivating sporting history being written. Mercedes are at the peak of their powers, but Ferrari have relentlessly fought their way back into contention over the past few seasons to reach a point where they now have an advantage over their rivals.

That must be acknowledged and celebrated, too.

This is high stakes, high pressure. Two great teams are being pushed to the absolute limit.

Hamilton said after Vettel’s commanding win in Belgium last weekend that Ferrari had tricks on their car, but the FIA is the governing body, and Mercedes should defer to them rather than make insinuations.

In football, rival supporters can debate the rights and wrongs of an offside decision, but at a certain point the officials decide, and the FIA is the referee in this game.

It is not there to strip apart the machinery forensically unless the legality of a car is questioned, but if an official objection is lodged in a legitimate manner, then it will take the car apart and analyse it.

There may be curiosity, and perhaps uncertainty, at Mercedes over the sources of Ferrari’s speed, but I have no more doubts over their advantage than I did over the legality of the Mercedes cars when Ferrari and Red Bull both pointed out their rival’s advantage.

The title race will continue to ebb and flow over the next eight races.

It is tight and that is good for the sport in fighting for headlines and television audiences. I hope the sun does not set on the championship before the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Whoever wins will, I believe, have done so fairly.