Wolff insists Mercedes car is legal after Horner hints at possible protest
Wolff insists Mercedes car is legal after Horner hints at possible protest
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has insisted his team’s car is “fully legal” after Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner questioned his rival's pace and hinted at a possible future protest.
Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from qualifying on Friday for a technical infringement of the rear wing on his W12, but despite the punishment, Horner has called for the part to be given further review.
Asked if the team planned to protest, Horner left the door open when he said it would not do so “at this race” but Wolff says he has nothing to hide and believes scepticism is to be expected in such a close competition.
When told of Horner’s opinions, Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “I don’t care. It’s part of the game that you look at other parts of other teams and challenge them. You need to be sceptical and maybe an inch paranoid and that’s ok for us.
“The car is fully legal and we are happy to drive it everywhere. You can say then was it fully legal after the qualifying. We think it was but it failed this one test because the flap was broken.
“[The car is faster because] we are having a much less draggy car, the engine is fresh, which makes a big difference. The concept is focused on straight-line speed as it has been in the past.
“People are free to challenge that and protest, which may happen. We will even offer them a rear wing to put it at home in the library or cut it up into a thousand pieces.”
Wolff refused to be drawn into a war of words, saying it is “not gloves off” and added: “Whoever wins at the end will be the right winner and we will always respect that as long as it is the same rules and framework for everybody.”
Horner confused by Mercedes speed gains
Horner, who claimed the Mercedes was “unraceable” in the São Paolo Grand Prix, added: “It’s important to understand where the speed has come from.
"Obviously they’ve had a new engine here, they are running Monaco levels of downforce and yet when he passed Max he was close to 30kph quicker on that lap.
“It’s just something that we need to understand. It’s down to the FIA to police the sport, to govern it, so we trust in them and their tests and their investigation.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 3 hours ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Ferrari must “stay alert” to beat McLaren - Sainz
Mercedes has never experienced a fight like this - Horner
Horner hopes 'let them race' precedent set with Verstappen and Hamilton
Sainz defends Norris collision but apologises for any wrongdoing
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860