Red Bull turn defence into attack over Mercedes front wing

Christian Horner has turned defence into attack by highlighting the flexibility of Mercedes' front wing in response to the furore surrounding Red Bull's rear wing.

The FIA recently issued a technical directive outlining changes to the processes involved in load testing rear wings after footage from the Spanish Grand Prix showed the Red Bull component flexing at high speed.

Despite his team being at the centre of the latest technical row, Horner has turned the situation around and taken aim at Mercedes.

"Obviously, the cars are built to be optimised to the regulations as it is a competition at the end of the day and there are tests that are in place for the FIA to measure that which is what they do and they vary those tests from time to time," said Horner.

"The whole car is under aerodynamic influence. A lot of noise is being made about the rear wing of the car but if you look at some footage from Imola of the front of our competitor's car it will show you clearly flexible aerodynamics.

"As we know, the front wing is a much more sensitive part of the car than the rear of the car. If you pick on one part of the car then inevitably that is just going to move around."

The RB16B has complied with the FIA tests so far and it is unknown how the rear wing would perform under the new stress tests from the French Grand Prix onwards.

Horner added: "It is of course very difficult for the FIA to police which is why they continually evolve these checks and processes which each team then has to comply with.

"To think that everybody's aerodynamic surface was completely rigid would be a fallacy on every single car of the grid. It is just not the case. You can physically see that."

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