New Mercedes F1 car has no illegal parts, insists team principal Toto Wolff

Mercedes have firmly refuted suggestions their new car for the Formula One season features any illegal components. Responding to reported comments from Red Bull, the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, said their innovative new sidepod design unveiled in Bahrain was within the new regulations.

When Lewis Hamilton took to the track for the final test this week, his Mercedes was radically different from the one at the first test in Barcelona. They have used the side impact structures as fins and mirror mounts and in so doing have dramatically decreased the size of their sidepods. The intent is to improve airflow and increase downforce. The design has the potential to give Mercedes a major pace advantage going into the new season, which begins in Bahrain on 20 March.

On Thursday morning, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported that Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, had already called the car’s legality into question. “From our point of view, Mercedes went a step too far,” he said. “That doesn’t correspond to the spirit of the regulations. For us, these wings are illegal.”

In a surprising twist Red Bull quickly and strenuously denied Horner had made any comments about the Mercedes. Nonetheless, Wolff responded by noting that although they were the only team to have adopted such a radical approach, their car had been designed in full consultation with F1’s governing body, the FIA, which had confirmed it was within the regulations during development.

“When you go down a specific development direction, the FIA scrutinises it and you make them a part of the process,” he said. “We were keen in not running alone, but being in touch with the FIA that is why I think it will be OK. It is clear that when you come with an