Teams question legality of McLaren's rear-wing design
Questions raised over Lewis Hamilton's new McLaren
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Thursday, 04, Mar 2010 11:28
By Adam Leveridge
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and Ferrari are seeking clarification from the FIA about the legality of McLaren's rear-wing design.
The teams are questioning a slot on the MP4-25's rear-wing, which has been designed to alter the airflow at high-speeds, reducing drag and giving the team a straight-line speed advantage of up to six miles per hour.
"There's a bit of a fuss over McLaren's rear wing," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told the Daily Telegraph.
"They have a slot on it that affects the air flow and they can pick up a lot of straight-line speed.
"I think it will get resolved before the first race.
"We've asked the FIA for clarification although I think Ferrari are probably more excited than we are to be honest."
This case has whiffs of 2009, when three teams - Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota - bypassed the new and radically revised aerodynamic regulations with their highly controversial double-decker diffusers.
After an investigation by the FIA, the diffusers were deemed legal, forcing those who hadn't discovered the loop-hole in the regulations, including Red Bull, to redesign their cars' rear-end in order to incorporate the device.
And to avoid a repeat of last year, Horner has confirmed that Red Bull are already looking into developing their own interpretation of McLaren's rear-wing slot.
"Basically, if you stall the wing you take all the drag off it and pick up straight-line speed," said Horner.
"It's something that's been done quite a lot over the years but with the wing separators you're not supposed to do that.
"Our question ultimately will be: 'Is it clever design or is it in breach of the regulations'?
"They must be very confident that it's legal. I would think it will be legal."