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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner on wings of McLaren and Mercedes

Horner challenges McLaren and Mercedes front wings: 'Regulations are clear'

2 September at 09:44
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  • Nicole Mulder

The flexibility of McLaren and Mercedes' front wings remains a topic of conversation. Even after the Italian Grand Prix, the subject is brought up again. Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner stresses that it is an issue for the FIA and also discusses the possibility of Red Bull using the same solution.

Red Bull team boss Horner on wings of McLaren and Mercedes

Wings are not allowed to flex too far, but a recurring problem is that Formula 1 teams manage to circumvent tests for this because they are carried out with stationary cars. Some teams have found a solution where the front wing does flex on the straight, possibly further than the rules allow.

"I think the regulations are very clear. And I think that's an FIA issue," Horner said in a conversation with GPblog and others in Monza. "There are tests that they pass but then you have to look at the wording of the regulations."

As an example, Horner points to 2021, when Red Bull used so-called 'flexiwings'. "If you remember back in 2021, around Baku time, there was a change to the front wing regulation. And even though our wings passed the test, it was exploiting air elasticity. So that's an FIA issue. So we've got to leave a bit of trust in them to deal with it."

Asked if Red Bull is considering introducing a similar solution, Horner replied, "Well, if it's acceptable, then you have to join in."

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton