The menace of a protest hung over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Friday as a row over ‘bendy’ rear wings dominated the dialog within the Formula One paddock.
The sixth spherical of the season is the final earlier than the governing FIA introduces new flexibility exams after some groups have been suspected of actually bending the foundations with wings that handed static inspection however labored otherwise at velocity.
The FIA has ordered groups to use stickers and colored dots to the wings this weekend so rear-facing cameras can monitor them extra precisely.
Formula One’s guidelines say all parts influencing a automobile’s aerodynamic efficiency should be rigidly secured and stay motionless.
McLaren boss Andreas Seidl welcomed the brand new measures however stated his Mercedes-powered crew remained sad that rivals may proceed to achieve a bonus.
“We merely have to see now within the course of the weekend what is going to occur,” he told reporters when asked whether the threat of a protest remained active.
“I don’t want to go into discussion of a protest at the moment,” he added. “In basic it doesn’t make sense to do something earlier than the occasion as a result of you’ll be able to change a rear wing on Saturday morning.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff warned at the previous Monaco Grand Prix that delaying the introduction of the new tests until after Baku “leaves the door open for protests”.
The ‘bendy wing’ controversy was flagged up by Mercedes’ seven instances world champion Lewis Hamilton on the Spanish Grand Prix when he commented on title rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Alpine have additionally been within the highlight.
Baku’s lengthy and quick straights give a specific benefit to automobiles with a flexi-wing. Seidl stated any crew whose rear wing confirmed extreme deflection this weekend ought to face penalties.
“From our level of view, if we see deflections once more like we now have seen in Barcelona there must be motion right here this weekend,” he said. “How this action will look like in the paddock, I don’t know yet.”
Seidl dismissed a suggestion that groups wanted time for structural adjustments.
“Every Formula One crew is ready to appropriate these particular matters or points inside a week if it’s a must to and that’s why we’re not pleased with the response of the FIA,” he stated.
Read all of the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News right here
