The battle on the track between the two best Formula 1 teams was accompanied by a fierce one outside of it too, with Red Bull having recently focused a lot of attention on the rear wing of the Mercedes.
Red Bull suspects Mercedes used a flexible rear wing to increase its top speed, and has based its suspicions on photos it believes show signs of this on the endplates.
For its part, Mercedes insists it is doing nothing illegal and team principal, Toto Wolff, claims the photos released prove nothing and that Red Bull is chasing ghosts.
At last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA began an analysis to verify the flexibility of the rear wing main planes to assess whether it is necessary to introduce more stringent tests.
While there has been no regulatory change and the Mercedes’ wings have completely passed all current tests and FIA audits, Red Bull believes that something has changed in terms of top speed for its rival.
Team principal Christian Horner believes that Mercedes and Red Bull’s speeds aligned in Qatar suggested the balance shifted for the first time since the summer break.
“I think what we have seen in the last few races is abnormal speed on the straight,” said Horner.
“I think Toto took pains to point out that there were some speed gains on the straight on our part when in fact nothing happened, but it is encouraging that this was the first race since Silverstone in which we were able to match. their speed on the straight and their exponential increase in races “.
While the tests conducted by the FIA in Qatar and the rest of the season will have no regulatory value, Horner believes that simply monitoring the situation is positive.
“I’m glad to see there are controls,” he said. “I am confident that the tests that have been introduced can eradicate any circumnavigation capabilities.”
But while Red Bull believes something has changed in terms of straight-line speed, Mercedes isn’t convinced.
A look at the speed trap data from the last five races, taking as reference the fastest of the Mercedes and Red Bulls, shows a straight advantage on each track.
Official speed trap (km / h)
Competition | Mercedes | Red Bull |
Qatar | 323.9 | 320.7 |
Brazil | 327.5 | 318.8 |
Mexico | 351.1 | 343.2 |
USA | 323.3 | 318.3 |
Turkey | 327.6 | 324.1 |
While there appears to have been a marginal difference, Mercedes thinks Qatar’s high-load demands have played a role in terms of varying the top speeds of both cars.
When asked what he thought of Red Bull’s claims, Wolff said: “Did they show any data or pictures on straight performance?”
“This is a less power-sensitive track and I think they did a good job: their straight-line speed with a loaded wing is identical to ours. So yeah, I’m happy they’re happy.”
“Now let’s go to Saudi Arabia and maybe we’ll hear some more comments from them, but I can’t keep up with them anymore. I made the decision for myself and for the team to try to avoid keeping up with the rumors that come out there.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
The next race in Saudi Arabia should favor Mercedes, the forecast seems more balanced for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
Horner, however, thinks that the fight between his team and Mercedes is too close to allow himself to be predicted.
“I think it’s going to be a close fight,” he said. “The next track should favor Mercedes, but Abu Dhabi, with the changes made, who knows?”.
“We arrive at these last two races with an eight-point lead in the Drivers’ World Championship and we have reduced our gap in the Constructors to five points. So we are fully in the game in both classifications. And it’s fantastic, because we are now at the peak of the World Championship”, he concluded.
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