After footage from the Spanish Grand Prix surfaced showing the Red Bull’s rear wing flexing at high speed, the FIA issued a technical guideline to conduct a new test for the French Grand Prix in June should.
Mercedes and McLaren are unhappy at the time of the tougher stance and argue that the opposing teams can continue to use the so-called “flexible” wings in the next race in Baku, where a significant speed advantage could be achieved on the straight.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke to Sky Sports F1 after the Monaco Grand Prix and declined to rule out the possibility of a protest. He warned that such a move could lead to a “chaotic” litigation.
“I think if the hover wings are on in Baku, with the benefit we see, it will go to the stewards,” said Wolff.
“And if the stewards are not enough, it goes to the ICA [International Court of Appeal].
“Well, I think the FIA will sort things out before Baku because if not it could be very messy.”
On the subject of matching items
When asked if Mercedes would protest against a competing team that had a flexible wing in Baku, Mercedes technical director James Allison replied: “I’m not saying anything.
“We’ll see what we see and find out what to do when we see it.”
McLaren was also frustrated with the Flexi Wing saga. Team boss Andreas Seidl said that the Woking outfit was “not in agreement” with the time of the new test by the FIA.
“Of course we are independent of what Mercedes does,” said Seidl. “At the moment we are also having a dialogue with the FIA.
“We are absolutely not happy that cars that we believe are clearly non-compliant, and after it has been determined that they are not compliant, that our competitors can continue to drive these cars.
On the subject of matching items
“That’s why we have this dialogue with the FIA and then we have to start it from there.”
Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur broke the FIA’s Flexi-Wing clampdown as a “joke” and claimed it would cost his team “a fortune” to make changes to the components.
In the meantime, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has tried to change the situation by aiming at the front wing of Mercedes, which in his opinion is “clear” with flexible aerodynamics.
Wolff admitted that Mercedes and Red Bull could protest against each other in Baku, but insisted that from his team’s point of view, he had no concerns.
“We analyzed the front wings and they flex just like the Red Bull,” he said.
“So we could also protest against one another on the front wing. But it is clear that the rear wing is flexing more than it should. According to the rules, it was classified as non-compliant.
“But we are in a vacuum where this is a new test that will be introduced after Baku. So it is what it is. But we’re pretty robust in our legal position and that’s just an advantage. “
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