Helmut Marko expects Mercedes to avoid the Baku scandal

Dr. Helmut Marko believes that Mercedes will withdraw from any protest against the rear wing in Baku – since it would have to be “eight cars”, not just Red Bull.

Flexi-Wings, or “Bendy Wings” as Sir Lewis Hamilton called them, have become a hot topic in Formula 1 in recent weeks since the seven-time world champion claimed that Red Bull had won “at least three tenths” of them in Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying.

The FIA ​​announced four days later that it would introduce new tests to ban wing designs that “exhibit excessive deflection while cars are in motion” and “can have a significant impact on the car’s aerodynamic performance”.

However, those tests won’t take place until June 15, just before the French Grand Prix, which means the current designs can still be used in Azerbaijan with its long straights – where Hamilton said Red Bulls wings “at least six tenths will probably be worth ”.

Mercedes F1 team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff is unhappy about the timing and says that if Red Bull in Baku still has the same wing that they have been using so far, he will “go to the stewards … and if the stewards are not enough then the International Court of Appeal ”.

However, Red Bull agent Marko says the majority of the teams on the F1 grid are using wings with similar designs to the RB16B – and that should deter Mercedes from protesting as it would lead to a “major scandal”.

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“Mercedes would have to protest against eight cars,” Marko told F1 Insider. “Besides us, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Alpine are also affected. Is that what you really want to do and cause a major scandal? I do not believe that. “

Red Bull has confirmed that they will modify their rear wing to meet the new tests, at a potential cost of “half a million dollars,” said team principal Christian Horner.

Aston Martin boss Otmar Szafnauer, who says his team will not be affected by the new policy, has claimed it would be feasible to install a new rear wing for Baku on June 4th and 6th – but Marko disagrees.

“We are changing our wing so that it can pass the new tests at the time required by the FIA,” said the 78-year-old Austrian.

“But that doesn’t work with Baku. We can’t do that in terms of time because we have to adjust the entire rear end. You can’t just build a new grand piano. “

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