Red Bull has reportedly filed a complaint with the FIA about Mercedes’ alleged “trick” to circumvent Formula 1 engine regulations.
This isn’t the first time the teams have clashed with each other this season as multiple protests have been recorded on either side of the rift between the current two fastest teams in F1.
F1 reporter Michael Schmidt of Auto Motor und Sport said on his YouTube show “Formula Schmidt” that Red Bull believes that Mercedes put temperature sensors on their car in a certain place so that the W12 can pass the FIA temperature tests.
The supposed “trick” comes because Red Bull believes that Mercedes generates additional horsepower from its unit by significantly cooling the air that comes out of the car when accelerating.
Because of this, Red Bull believes it could give its title rivals an unfair advantage if the cooler air temperature it creates violates FIA regulations.
While unable to confirm Red Bull’s allegations, he explained where Mercedes was supposedly winning.
“Red Bull has claimed to have filed a complaint [about Mercedes’ power unit] Ferrari should also be involved in the FIA, [but] they don’t say anything about that, “said Schmidt.
“Apparently Mercedes has a trick that is initially legal. You somehow manage to cool the air in the plenary. ” [air distribution area of an engine], at least in the acceleration phase, and that gives significantly more horsepower in this phase, [but] not so much towards the end.
“That could be true if you see how the Mercedes comes out of the corners.”
Red Bull’s Honda engine had had an advantage over its Mercedes equivalent at the start of the season. Still, the upgrades brought to Silverstone by the Silver Arrows appear to have had the intended impact on Mercedes’ performance.
While Mercedes themselves claim they haven’t gained any extra power, Red Bull and Ferrari believe their power will be distributed differently, which led to their gains from slow corners.
Despite Red Bull’s assertions on this subject, Schmidt does not believe that Mercedes is violating any regulations by doing so – if it turns out that they have used this “trick” at all.
In any case, he assumes that the matter will be resolved soon.
“I think the trick is legal, but it’s about where the sensors measure the temperatures in the plenary because only a certain temperature is allowed,” says Schmidt.
“I don’t think you can be below 10 ° C (outside temperature), and she [Red Bull] claim the sensors are located wherever it is ensured that it is warm enough.
“I think that will be cleared up in the next two or three races. If we don’t hear anything, I consider what Mercedes is doing to be legal.”
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