SAKHIR, BAHRAIN (REUTERS, AFP) – Method One champions Mercedes had been the speak of pre-season testing in Bahrain on Thursday (March 10) after turning up with a radically revised automobile that caught the attention and raised hackles at rivals Crimson Bull.
The brand new-look W13 automobile featured dramatically narrower sidepods, with Method One’s motorsport managing director Ross Brawn saying the idea was spectacular and a “very excessive interpretation of the regulation” that had not been anticipated.
“Inevitably, there’s going to be lots of debate about their interpretation. That is what occurs with new laws,” the Briton advised F1 TV. “Nonetheless arduous you attempt to shut off all of the choices, and imagine me, we closed off tons of of them, the innovation in Method One is all the time excessive.”
Consideration additionally targeted on a construction on which Mercedes’ rear-view mirrors had been mounted.
Ferrari group principal Mattia Binotto was quoted by the BBC as saying: “On the mirrors, it was stunning – we weren’t anticipating that. We all the time stated the mirror should not have any aero objective and the best way they handled their automobiles there’s a vital aero objective within the mirrors.”
Mercedes insisted the novel ‘no sidepod’ design of their 2022 automobile is completely authorized.
However Crimson Bull group chief Christian Horner was reported to have questioned the legality of the design in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport in Germany.
He was additionally stated to have described the design as not within the “spirit” of the game.
However a group spokesman insisted: “Christian Horner has not given any interviews concerning Mercedes automobile.
“Any quotes being attributed to him this morning are incorrect.”
Journalist Andreas Haupt, nonetheless, took to Twitter to defend the German outlet’s story. “We spoke with Horner within the paddock at this time. You may belief us.”
Horner himself advised Sky Sports activities F1: “I used to be barely shocked to be studying feedback I am alleged to have been making, however there we go.”
Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff defended his ‘no sidepod’ design regardless of the controversy sparking a brand new spherical of paddock politics.
“It is clear that typically while you include an innovation it creates the form of debate that we’re having right here. That is why that was anticipated,” he advised reporters.
