Now Red Bull hits reverse on 'illegal' Merc F1 car claims

 • Red Bull's Christian Horner has claimed Mercedes' new F1 car design is illegal. • The team and their boss have now seemingly retracted these claims. • Ferrari also has their reservations about Mercedes' car design.

Red Bull has hit reverse gear after boss Christian Horner suggested Mercedes' no-sidepod innovation revealed in Bahrain on Thursday (10 March) is illegal.

Even F1 managing director Ross Brawn admits that the radical concept, also complete with controversial wing-like crash structure mounts for the side mirrors, came out of the left field.

"It's a very extreme interpretation of the regulations, and inevitably there is going to be a lot of debate," he said.

However, Brawn also said the idea is "impressive", representing the "great thing" about innovation in Formula 1.

"I think the regulators are ok with it so far, but of course, a team may come in and raise an objection that the FIA have to consider, and then you have a problem," he said.READ | And so it begins: Horner claims new Mercedes F1 car design is 'illegal'

Indeed, Mercedes' team nemesis Red Bull was quick to raise the spectre of a potential protest, with Horner telling Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that he has concerns.

"The new Mercedes violates the spirit of the regulations," he told correspondent Michael Schmidt. "For us, some parts are not legal.

"These are not mirror mounts, but two wings. They also have vertical baffles built on top. They have nothing to do with the mirror mount.

"From our point of view, Mercedes went a step too far," Horner added.

However, while Schmidt protested that the comments were genuine, it wasn't long before both Red Bull, and Horner denied they were ever uttered.

"Christian Horner has not given any interviews regarding