FIA give the 'Pink Mercedes' the all clear

Racing Point Formula 1 technical director Andrew Green remains confused over what their rivals hope to achieve by pressing ahead with protests over the RP20, the car dubbed the 'Pink Mercedes'.

Green told Motorsport.com that the FIA have visited the team headquarters to check that there had been no illegal transfer of data between Mercedes and Racing Point and that the representatives had left satisfied.

Despite this, a number of teams are still considering protesting the RP20.

"We don't really know what the ground is that they are thinking of protesting about," said Green.

"When the car launched, we talked to the FIA about it, the FIA came round to the factory and looked at what we'd done and the designs of the car.

"They even took the design data from Mercedes for last year's car and checked it against ours. They did a thorough check.

"And they are completely happy that the car that we've got on track has been designed by us.

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"It may have some similarities to the Mercedes, but it's just similar. It's not the same. And so there is no protest there.

"They can shout and scream as much as they want, but I think what they're actually shouting and screaming about is the fact that they've missed a trick. And that's what they're upset about."

Racing Point openly admitted at preseason testing that they had based the design of the RP20 on photographic images of the 2019 Mercedes car. While teams may not be entirely appreciative of this design method, there is nothing in the regulations to prevent this practice.

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