LUSAIL, Qatar – Toto Wolff says Red Bull is seeing “ghosts” after his rival team principal Christian Horner suggested scratches on the Mercedes’ rear wing were related to body flexing.
On Friday, Red Bull showed broadcasters images of scratches on the rear wing paneling beneath the main plain of the Mercedes’ rear wing.
In several interviews, Horner has stated that these marks are a manifestation of the main part of the wing flexing under aerodynamic loads, thereby reducing drag and increasing top speed in a straight line.
While some body flex is inevitable on an F1 car, moving aerodynamics are outlawed by regulation and there have been plenty of hints from Red Bull that Mercedes may be gaining an illegal advantage.
But Wolff denied the images of traces of a fight.
“I can’t see anything in this photo other than something scratched – a ghost,” Wolff said. “I don’t know where they got this picture from and what it represents. It’s a ghost.”
More stringent rear wing load tests will be introduced by the FIA during the Qatar Grand Prix at the weekend, but Wolff says they are essentially just a test for 2022 and is confident Mercedes will pass. past them regardless.
“I think they’re trying a new load test, also next year, to have these sturdier and check how much a wing deflects,” said Wolff. “I think it is not in the regulations or TD but more experimental in nature.
“But it’s going to be interesting to see the results, because I think we’re on the good side. But I’m precalculating because I don’t know what the outcome is or when they want to do it. We need to find out. with the garage.”
Mercedes and Red Bull are engaged in a tight title war, with Lewis Hamilton 14 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
Asked if he expected Red Bull to oppose Mercedes at one of the final three races of 2021, Wolff added: “I don’t know what they’re up to, but like I said, I can’t follow keep [with the accusations]. I can’t follow their thoughts.
“It seems erratic. But that’s okay because I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.
“We are trying to look at ourselves and do the best we can. We are still behind with 14 points [in the drivers’ championship] and we need to make a good race tomorrow. That’s what’s important. “
