Mercedes flexi-wing complaints a "compliment" to Red Bull

Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey suggested Mercedes' complaints about the now obsolete flexi-wings were a "compliment".

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes drew attention to apparent bending in the rear wing of the Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix despite FIA tests ensuring conformity with the regulations.

The governing body introduced stricter testing of the component at the French Grand Prix resulting in several teams needing to redesign and add rigidity to their wings.

Speaking to the Talking Bull podcast, Newey indicated the "top teams are only interested in what their main rivals are doing".

"As you say with the recent flexible rear wing, we were not the only team exploiting that - Alfa and I think one other team, I can't remember which," he added.

"That in its own, when Mercedes started making noise about it, they weren't worried about what Alfa was doing, they were worried about whether we were getting benefit from it.

"Yes, in a way you can take it as a compliment. We have been there before in the last championship battles with Ferrari back in the sort of 2012 area, then there were all sorts of rows over bodywork flexibility - then it was more aimed at the front wing.

"It is natural, we will equally be taking a careful eye at what Mercedes are doing and see if there is anything they are doing that we can take a pop at.

"It is natural. I never like the war analogy but it is a decent analogy. The war analogy, you look at every aspect you can to improve your competitive position."

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