The fuse had been lit by Mercedes, bringing to the track an aggressive and important aerodynamic package in the central part of the W13. Ross Brawn then detonated the bomb, talking about “some very extreme interpretations of the regulations that could lead to a lot of debate”.
Red Bull and especially Ferrari, with the voice of team principal Mattia Binotto, shares his thoughts on the Mercedes new car. The most important thing? The real wing that contains the upper anti-intrusion cone and which acts as a support for the rear-view mirrors of the Mercedes car. “The solution is rather surprising and interesting but it is something that we do not expect and that must be addressed,” the Italian-Swiss engineer told Sky Italia just a few hours after the world champion team brought its updates to the track. Referring to the interpretation of the regulation, Mattia Binotto immediately admitted that that solution was “legal but against the spirit of the regulation” since the mirror supports should not have an aerodynamic function or in any case it should only be minimal.
The aerodynamic influence of the mirrors and their supports must only be incidental.
A few hours ago, speaking with some selected media, he went into even more details. “I haven’t changed my mind. The FIA has always clearly stated that the support and assembly of the mirrors must have only a structural function while its aerodynamic influence must be only incidental ”.
Mattia Binotto refers to article 3.2.2 of the technical regulation. The mirror supports, not being classified as bodywork, must have an aerodynamic influence only “ancillary to their main function”. Projects aiming at maximizing this aerodynamic influence are also prohibited.
“If this was the principle used in the past, I believe it must be the same today, there is no reason to change this stance now. Certain solutions, mounted on other cars, do not have an accidental influence but rather an aerodynamic purpose. I therefore consider them at least contrary to what the spirit of the Federation has been in the past. ” said the boss of the Italian team.
Then he went into further detail specifying what he means by “spirit of the regulation”, taking an example that involved the Maranello team a few seasons ago. “I do not expect appeals on the Mercedes solution as the regulation is written. In 2018 we had mounted the mirror attached to the Halo and that solution, as the regulation was written at the time, was legal. After two races, the FIA send a technical directive and we had to remove it because it had a non-accidental aerodynamic influence. A technical directive is not a regulation, but it is the opinion of the FIA as it is an interpretation of this. I’m curious to see this time..” “.
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Ferrari had fixed the mirror anchor to the Halo, adding two aerodynamic appendages above the mirrors to limit vibrations. An explanation that at the time did not convince the late Charlie Whiting and the technical side of the Federation. To close this very extreme interpretation of the regulation, the FIA issued, as often happens, a technical directive that made that particular solution illegal.
Mercedes mirrors? Ferrari is waiting for an opinion from the Federation
“When I say that a solution is against the spirit of the regulation, I do not mean that it is illegal but that it may be contrary to the interpretation of the regulation. This is why I do not expect appeals but requests for clarification. ” – continued Ferrari’s TP – “It will then be the FIA to give us an opinion regarding a specific interpretation and, if necessary, to clarify our doubts with a technical directive. Nobody is questioning the legality of Mercedes solutions from a regulation point of view ”.
The various teams, in a meeting of the FIA technical committee, discussed a few hours ago the solution brought to the track by the world champion team. However, Mattia Binotto said he doesn’t expect much. “We are ten teams, plus the FIA and Liberty Media. Twelve heads and twelve different ideas, with each team trying to pull water on their own mill. The discussion has already begun, where it will lead I do not know ”. Solution that Mercedes showed during the validation at the FIA through CAD drawings, receiving a positive opinion regarding the possibility of taking them to the track. The information that will reach the Federation from one or more teams will be important. If, among these, there was an argument that was not taken into consideration during the validation process, the opinion of the controlling body of Formula 1 could also change. However, according to formu1a.uno, this will not be the case.
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