Red Bull could design 'more extreme' DAS solution for RB16

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Red Bull could raise the stakes against Mercedes by designing an even "more extreme" DAS solution for its RB16 according to team boss Christian Horner.

Mercedes' innovative Duel Axis Steering device was given the thumbs up by the Austrian Grand Prix stewards following a protest lodged by Red Bull last weekend.

But the main takeaway from the ruling for Red Bull is that it is now free to exploit a DAS solution of its own on its RB16, with a concept already sitting on a drawing board at Milton Keynes, waiting to be implemented.

FIA rejects Red Bull protest of Mercedes DAS system!

"From our point of view, it was a grey area," explained Horner in an interview on Servus TV.

"Mercedes put forward the argument that it was part of the steering system, we thought that in this form it was part of the suspension. Ultimately, it’s for warming up the tires.

"The technical delegate was in Spielberg for the hearing. Because of the protest on Friday, the subject had no influence on the rest of the weekend. …but we wanted to have it settled before we went out on the track.

"We’re putting a lot of money into this. Maybe we’ll look for a more extreme solution now that it’s allowed."

While the credit for the ingenious DAS system goes to Mercedes' creative engineering minds, team boss Toto Wolff insists the device - which has already been outlawed for 2021 - is anything but "silver bullet" for the German squad this year.

"I think in F1 people are always interested in technical innovation and describing what seems to be a silver bullet, that could potentially be a game changer," said Wolff.

"The last time I saw such a thing was the double diffuser, but since then it's more about the marginal gains, adding performance parts, and in a similar way DAS is a great innovation.

"It adds a new dimension to the steering and will hopefully over its development period add some performance.

"But today you wouldn't be able to say this has changed the game for us. I don't want to go into the specifics.

"It's great innovation, the idea behind it is fantastic, and I love that fact if it us or another team that comes up with new ideas."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.