BREAKING NEWS: Christian Horner urges FIA to ‘look’ into Mercedes and McLaren front......amidst Red Bull’s.......Read more

Christian Horner urges FIA to ‘look’ into Mercedes and McLaren front wings amidst Red Bull’s slump

Christian Horner, the Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, has recently called on the FIA to re-examine the legality of the front wings used by Mercedes and McLaren amidst Red Bull’s unexpected performance slump. This plea comes in the wake of Red Bull’s struggles, most notably seen at the Italian Grand Prix, where the team’s performance significantly lagged behind its competitors. Horner believes that something is fundamentally wrong with their car’s chassis, which has led to a noticeable dip in performance. However, rather than solely attributing Red Bull’s challenges to internal issues, Horner has turned his attention to the front wing setups of Mercedes and McLaren, suggesting that they might be operating on the borderline of what is legally permissible.

The concerns surrounding Mercedes’ front wing are not new. Earlier in the season, the design of the front wing on the Mercedes W15 had already raised eyebrows, leading to an FIA investigation. Despite this scrutiny, the FIA ultimately cleared Mercedes, affirming that the front wing was within the regulations. However, Christian Horner remains unconvinced. In his view, while the teams may have passed the FIA’s tests, the wording of the regulations leaves room for interpretation, and he argues that a closer examination is warranted.

“The regulations are very clear, and I think that is an FIA issue,” Horner commented. “Obviously, it is their tests that they passed, but then you have to look at the wording of the regulations.”

To bolster his argument, Horner drew parallels with a similar situation from 2021, particularly around the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. During that period, there was a change in the front-wing regulations that affected several teams, including Red Bull. Horner recalled how Red Bull’s front wings at the time had passed the regulatory tests but were later deemed to be exploiting the concept of aeroelasticity for better performance. This experience, according to Horner, is a precedent that the FIA should consider when reviewing the current designs used by Mercedes and McLaren.

“If you look back to 2021, certainly around Baku time, there was a change to the front-wing regulations – and even though our wings passed the test, it was exploiting aeroelasticity,” Horner added.

The issue at hand is not just about performance but also about the interpretation of the technical regulations that govern Formula 1. The front wing is a critical component in the aerodynamics of a Formula 1 car, and even slight deviations in its design can have significant impacts on performance. By raising these concerns, Horner is essentially questioning whether Mercedes and McLaren have found a loophole in the regulations that allows them to gain an unfair advantage.

Horner’s skepticism is further fueled by the noticeable improvements in McLaren’s chassis, which has emerged as the most dominant on the grid, and the recent uptick in Mercedes’ performance. These developments have put Red Bull under pressure, as the team now finds itself in a much tighter championship battle than anticipated. Currently, Red Bull holds only a slender eight-point lead over McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, a margin that could easily be overturned in the coming races if Red Bull’s performance issues are not resolved.

Given the stakes, Horner has expressed his confidence in the FIA to handle the situation appropriately. He emphasized that if the front wing designs of Mercedes and McLaren are found to be within the rules, then Red Bull would have no choice but to adapt and potentially join their rivals in pushing the boundaries of the regulations.

“It is an FIA issue, we’ll leave it and trust in them to deal with it, but if it is acceptable, then you have to join it,” Horner noted.

The unfolding situation adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already dramatic season. The performance inconsistencies among the top teams have set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the championship, with the possibility of a reshuffling of the order as the season progresses. For Red Bull, the coming races will be crucial, not only in terms of resolving their performance issues but also in keeping up with their competitors who are rapidly closing the gap.

Horner’s calls for a re-examination of the front wing designs serve as a reminder of the constant technical and strategic battles that take place off the track in Formula 1. As teams continue to push the limits of what is possible within the regulations, the role of the FIA in maintaining a level playing field becomes ever more critical. Whether the FIA will heed Horner’s concerns and take further action remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the championship fight is far from over, and the battle both on and off the track is only set to intensify.