Dr. Helmut Marko has voiced Red Bull's apprehensions regarding the flexibility of some competitors' front wing designs, particularly highlighting Mercedes.
As the 2024 season advances, Red Bull's once commanding lead has started to diminish, with Ferrari and McLaren notably narrowing the gap.
Mercedes, too, seems to be overcoming its previous challenges from the 2022 'ground effect' era, with their Technical Director James Allison describing a recent breakthrough as a "How could we have been so dumb-type moment."
Red Bull suspects that Mercedes' front wing may be excessively flexible when in motion and has requested the FIA to conduct a thorough inspection.
"They have a new front wing," Red Bull's F1 consultant Marko informed the Osterreich newspaper, "and on the TV pictures from Montreal you can clearly see that (George) Russell and (Lewis) Hamilton's wings are bending noticeably.
"However, the wings had the necessary strength when they were approved. It doesn't surprise me," he commented. "I don't know how often we had to check our wings."
Marko also revealed his intention to closely monitor the scrutineering process in the upcoming races, starting with Barcelona this weekend.
"Everything was ok (with the FIA) in Montreal. But there is a new inspection for Barcelona and Spielberg and so on, and it has to always be ok," he noted.
"And everyone is looking at the situation critically - not just us," he emphasized.
When it was suggested that Red Bull's actions seemed aimed at "clipping Mercedes' wings," the 81-year-old responded with a laugh, remarking, "A funny play on words. Something satirical. But if that happens, it will be the FIA who did it." body check tags ::
