There is speculation that Red Bull could challenge the legality of the front wings being used by a number of rival teams.

In pre-season testing concern was raised over the front wing being used by Mercedes and despite the assurance of the FIA as to its legality the murmuring continued.

However, when it became clear that the German team had not taken a significant step forward the murmuring appeared to die down and things moved on.

Now, as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes begin to close in, talk of illegality has resumed, indeed it is claimed that Red Bull was never convinced that all was well, and is now even more concerned that rules are being broken.

Seemingly, behind the scenes, Red Bull has been seeking support from other teams, most notably Aston Martin, in the hopes that a protest might be lodged. However, with last year's shenanigans still fresh in mind the Silverstone-based outfit was unwilling to play ball.

In 2023 the FIA was forced to issue a technical directive as a result of "rubbery nose boxes" which allowed the front wings on some cars to flex, this followed the situation earlier in the year when Aston Martin had to deny that the FIA had demanded modifications following claims of flexing.

Asked if Red Bull had approached the FIA to express its doubts over Mercedes new front wing, Helmut Marko told Auto Motor und Sport: You can't say that.

"They have a new front wing, and on the TV pictures from Montreal you can clearly see that Russell and Hamilton's wings are bending noticeably," he added. "However, the wings had the necessary strength when they were approved. That doesn't surprise me.

"I don't know how often we had to check our wings," he continued. "There is a precisely defined procedure with weights under which a wing must not bend. It is a popular game of pushing everything to the limit so that it passes the technical inspection. During the race, the wing then lowers, which ensures better aerodynamics.

"It has come up again and again when the deformation was clearly visible in the television images," said the Austrian. "Everything was OK in Montreal. There is a new inspection for Barcelona and Spielberg etc., and it has to be OK again. Of course, the competition is looking at that critically, not just us."

There is absolutely no proof that McLaren, Ferrari or Mercedes are doing anything wrong, but with an eye on the closing gap between the top four teams, not to mention the increasing toxicity at that end of the paddock, surely nothing is off the table, especially if Red Bull really is seeking support from elsewhere in the paddock.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 20/06/2024 5:58

"Some advice for the teams from Matthew 7:3-5:

'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?'"

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2. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 20/06/2024 2:34

"@kenji - true, but it wasn’t meant to be an exhaustive list. Sadly, there are quite a few names we could add to the roll of dishonour. "

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3. Posted by kenji, 19/06/2024 23:11

"@Ricardo_sanchez....you have left the biggest contributor to the endemic toxicosis supposedly raging at the sharp end. Why omit Jos Verstappen? Red Bull have certainly faced some increasing competition lately but it's hardly imploded as he forecast...at least that's how it appears from the public viewpoint ATM."

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4. Posted by Superbird70, 19/06/2024 17:30

"@KKK single element front aero, just a wing , same for the back."

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5. Posted by Editor, 19/06/2024 17:04

"@ Ricardo_sanchez

Thanks for that mate... surprised it had to be pointed out to be honest."

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6. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 19/06/2024 15:50

"@Alex_V10_USA - I think the Editor is referring to the increasing toxicity between the various teams at the sharp(er) end of the grid. In other words, the sniping involving the likes of Zak Brown, Toto Wolff & Christian Horner. "

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7. Posted by Alex_V10_USA, 19/06/2024 13:32

"What is the increasing toxicity? Seems like a cheap shot."

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8. Posted by Wokingchap, 19/06/2024 13:29

"He who shouts loudest......."

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9. Posted by Spindoctor, 19/06/2024 12:34

"Excellent. If Horner has started whingeing about other teams, it looks like RBR are really facing some competition at last.
My champers will remain in the cooler until we see how things go in Spain. It might be instructive to see how RBR & the Verstappen clan respond to some serious pressure on their dominance."

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10. Posted by KKK, 19/06/2024 12:24

"I just wish the FIA, FOM and whoever thinks they are running the show, to just cut the size of all the wings, no curved up edges, just plain boards that can stand up ti the weight of a person. Red Bull should just go out and race, stop whingeing !"

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Red Bull pondering protests?

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