Charlie Whiting reveals Ferrari could still protest over Mercedes’ controversial wheels. The controversial wheels were only deemed legal for the Mexican GP.

Charlie Whiting, the FIA Formula One Race Director, Safety Delegate, Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department, has recently confirmed that Mercedes’ controversial rear wheel hubs could still face protest from Ferrari in grands prix in the future.

The controversial wheels were only deemed legal for the Mexican Grand Prix with the Silver Arrows choosing not to use them the week before in America. There’s dispute over the legality of the design that concerns the holes in the wheel (A.K.A ‘Spacers’) – which help heat extraction, and this could make the wheel an illegal moveable aerodynamic device.

Mercedes asked the stewards in Mexico to confirm their legality and it was approved but the stewards added that “our jurisdiction extends solely to this event”. Charlie Whiting believes that if Mercedes use this wheel in future races; then it could result in more protests and also added that Ferrari’s concerns about the wheel proves they don’t know completely how it works.

“They don’t know exactly what Mercedes have done,” Charlie Whiting said, as reported by RaceFans earlier today – “So that’s one problem for them. They think in principle it’s wrong although they probably don’t know the exact way in which it works but they have always got the option of a protest.” – the FIA Formula One Race Director concluded.