Mercedes does not rule out protest against Red Bull's flexible rear wing

F1 News

20 May 2021 at 13:44
Last update 20 May 2021 at 13:45
  • GPblog.com

The story surrounding Red Bull Racing 's flexible rear wing seems to be having an increasing impact on the F1 paddock. It first came to light in Spain and it's one of the main topics in Monaco. Toto Wolff will make it clear in Thursday's press conference what he thinks about it.

"This situation ensures that we are in no man's land if you look at the regulations. It says that bending some rear wings is considered excessive by the FIA. So the teams that continue to use it become susceptible to a protest," Wolff acknowledged to Motorsport.com.

Protest against Red Bull soon?

"Then the case goes to the ICA (International Court of Appeal of the FIA) and actually such a messy situation doesn't help anyone at all," Wolff explained. In 2020, Red Bull protested against Mercedes over another questionable development, the DAS system. "There have been similar situations in the past, similarly with the DAS," he said.

"The door is open for a protest, that's not only for us, because there are at least two more teams. However, a protest creates a messy situation, just when the FIA wants to come up with a solution." Wolff emphasises that it should never have come to this. "Certainly not now that we have four races left until the race where this is most relevant," with which Wolff refers to the race in Baku, with its long straight. Mercedes expects Red Bull to be able to take great advantage of that with a flexible rear wing.