Mercedes: 'Marko's jokes are our best weapon'

The battle between Red Bull Racing and Mercedes is not carried out on the track, but also off it. While the two top teams are in a fierce battle for the World Drivers' and Teams' Championships, the battle is also being fought verbally. It is mainly about the flexible rear wing of the RB16B which is illegal according to Mercedes.

In the media, Toto Wolff, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner don't hesitate to make cutting edge comments. Red Bull is 'sure' that the rear wing is within FIA regulations. The Milton Keynes based racing team even counters by saying that the front wing of the W12 moves more than Red Bull's rear wing.

Wolff comes up with Lauda's statement

Marko in particular is very present in the press, but according to Wolff, this is only because the Austrian formation is under a lot of pressure. "Helmut Marko is known for his jokes. But that makes Helmut our best weapon. That's what Niki Lauda used to say", Wolff said to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. According to the Mercedes team boss, every verbal attack only makes the team stronger and more determined to finish the season winning.

Both sides seem convinced they are right about the flexible wings, but it will not be until next week in Baku that the international motorsport federation will come up with its verdict.