'A criminal offence' - Red Bull head Christian Horner hints at investigation of Aston Martin copycat claims

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hinted that the Austrian F1 outfit are looking into Aston Martin’s new car design, which looks similar to their own. The FIA have — for now — given the greenlight to Aston Martin, with suggestions that they had broken rules by copying the Red Bull design.

Ad/> Horner spoke to Sky Sports over the controversy, suggesting he wanted further investigation on his own side, and hinted that he believes that the governing body, the FIA, should do more. Spanish Grand PrixLeclerc leads at Spanish Grand Prix second practice but Russell and Hamilton close in3 HOURS AGO “Imitation is the biggest form of flattery and it’s no coincidence that we’ve had a few individuals who have transferred from Red Bull to Aston Martin over the winter and the early part of this season,” he began.

“It was brought to our attention by the FIA earlier in the week, who said: ‘We’ve got a car that looks remarkably like yours. Can we have a list of your leavers to see where they went.’ “That immediately raises alarm bells.

What is permissible is individuals move from team to team. What they take in their head, that's fair game, that’s their knowledge.

What isn’t fair and is totally unacceptable is if there has been any transfer of IP [intellectual [property].” Leclerc leads at Spanish Grand Prix second practice but Russell and Hamilton close in Leclerc leads Sainz for Ferrari one-two at Spanish GP first practice Alonso referred to stewards after hitting out at 'incompetence' from FIA Horner gave a stern warning over the possible implications should anything illegal have transpired. “I'm not going to disclose where we are with certain individuals, but it would be an offence — a criminal offence — because IP is a team’s