Mercedes’ internal data showed Ferrari’s straight-line speed was “totally different” during Sunday’s United States Grand Prix amid scrutiny of its engine performance after an FIA🍒 technical directive issued last week.

Ferrari has been subject to speculation about the legality of its power unᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚit in recent weeks after enjoying a surge in form since the summer break, producing a straight-line speed that left rivals Mercedes and Red Bull lagging far behind.

A technical directive was issued ahead of the race in Austin after Red Bull went to the FIA’s technical depart෴ment with a possible fuel system solution that was d🍌eemed illegal.

Ferrari failed to compete fo𓂃r victory in the race as Charles Leclerc finished more than 50 seconds down on winner Valtteri Botꦓtas.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen said after the race it was “not strange” Ferrari’s form had taken a downward turn, prompting an angry r𒀰esponse from Leclerc and Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto.

Asked about Ferrari’s form in Austin, Mercedes F1 ꦦchief Toto Wolff revealed the team’s data showed there had b꧒een a big change in the SF90 car’s straight-line performance.

“🎐We just had a discussion about the data from the race, and the speed trace looks totally different to the last few races,” Wolff said.

“Whether it’s down to the technical directive or down to another issue, I honestly don’t know as we can’t look into what Ferra🌱ri has done.”

Wolff was then asked what would happen if a team had been found to be in breach of a tech♈nical directive before it had been issued, and wheth♊er it would be a “grey area”.

“If someone 𒀰was doing what the technical directive clarified, it would have been foul play,” Wolff said.

“The way the technical directive was formulated, it was a severe breach of regulation, so 𒉰there was not even any talk of grey areas.

Ferrari chief Binotto claimed after the race that the team had sacrificed some of its straight-line performance to try and help its😼 cornering, given the requirements ♔of the first and final sectors at the Circuit of The Americas.

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli.