FIA set to discuss Mercedes wheel rim design with teams

Before the American Grand Prix last weekend, Ferrari asked the FIA to explain why Mercedes were allowed to have holes in their wheel rims. The Italian team considered this to be a 'moveable aerodynamic device' - Red Bull had been banned for doing a similar thing back in 2012.

Mercedes did change the rims when they learned of Ferrari's complaints in an effort to avoid any potential penalty or fine, but the FIA made it clear that what the German team was doing was completely legal.

Charlie Whiting, the F1's racing director, doesn't think any more clarification is needed to the public, but he does concede that the FIA will probably have to talk things over with the other teams to clear the air.

“I don’t think a clarification is needed because we’ve already done that, everyone’s aware of what we feel,” Whiting told Motorsport.

“I think there’s still a difference of opinion and that probably needs to be sorted out in the technical working group.”

“A lot of people blow through the spokes anyway, so it’s not something that is totally new, but people tend to blow further outboard,” Renault CTO Nick Chester added.

“I think there will be a few interesting interpretations for next year. It is even more important with the 2019 rules because you are struggling to get the front wing to outwash the air as much as you would like.

"So if you can do more in the wheel it becomes even more important.”