Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

F1 News

Mercedes' controversial wheels could face protest still - Whiting

Mercedes' controversial wheels could face protest still - Whiting

01-11-2018 16:05
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Bobby Vincent

FIA Race Director, Charlie Whiting has revealed that Mercedes' controversial rear wheel hubs could still face protest in grands prix in the future.

The controversial wheels were only deemed legal for the Mexican Grand Prix with the Silver Arrows choosing not to use them the week before in America.

There's dispute over the legality of the design that concerns the holes in the wheel (A.K.A 'Spacers') - which help heat extraction, and this could make the wheel an illegal moveable aerodynamic device.

Mercedes asked the stewards in Mexico to confirm their legality and it was approved but the stewards added that "our jurisdiction extends solely to this event".

Whiting believes that if Mercedes use this wheel in future races; then it could result in more protests and also added that Ferrari's concerns about the wheel proves they don't know completely how it works.

"They don't know exactly what Mercedes have done," Whiting told RaceFans. "So that's one problem for them. They think in principle it's wrong although they probably don't know the exact way in which it works but they have always got the option of a protest."