Christian Horner believes Mercedes sidepod ‘looks like it complies with regulations’ after controversy
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Published 11/03/2022 at 15:33 GMT
Day 1 testing at Bahrain launched a potential controversy between the duelling Mercedes and Red Bull teams, however it appears that there will be no dispute - this time, at least. Mercedes introduced a radically different sidepod design, but on Day 2 Horner suggested that the sidepod was within the rules.
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the second day of Formula One (F1) pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in the city of Sakhir on March 11, 2022. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP) (Photo by MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty)
Image credit: Getty Images
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Friday that Mercedes’ controversial sidepod design ‘looks like it complies with regulations’.
The sidepod shape is much smaller than other teams’ offerings, and the air intake side appeared to be of a limited size. However the furthest F1 managing director Ross Brawn would go was to say he was ‘surprised’.
It is not clear if any teams have appealed to the governing body about the new design, but there were rumours that Horner had at first called the sidepod ‘illegal’, before more publicly denying he had an opinion.
His driver and current champion Max Verstappen would not be drawn on the matter.
At a press conference between the two sessions on Day 2 of testing in Bahrain, Horner appeared more relaxed about the subject.
“Whether we think it’s legal or not, yes, it looks like it ticks all the boxes,” he said.
“Comments have been quoted that weren’t made. It is an innovative solution. The Mercedes car looks like it complies with the regulations.”
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