Binotto wants clampdown on Mercedes 'spaceship' mirrors

Mattia Binotto is calling for a clampdown on F1's rear-view mirror regulations, the Ferrari boss denouncing the "spaceship" design of the element featured on Mercedes' W13.

As part of the significant upgrade package it introduced in Bahrain, Mercedes incorporated a heavily sculpted mirror assembly mounted on an aero element that featured a series of vanes on the cockpit side structure.

While most of Mercedes' rivals focused their attention on the Brackley squad's sidepod concept on its W13, Binotto pointed to the mirror design as something he believed was not within the spirit of F1's regulations.

"On the mirrors, I am somehow surprised," said Binotto, speaking on Thursday in Bahrain at the team principals' media conference.

"I find them quite surprising, and it is something that we are not expecting. I think in the spirit of that, it is something that I think for the future needs to be addressed.

"Already in the past we always argue the mirrors should not have any aero purpose. They should be there just to look behind.

"I think that the way that they have designed their car, certainly there is a significant aero purpose in the mirrors itself.

"I think it is something that we need to stop for the future, no doubts, because the risk is that we will come in the future, that all the teams will start designing mirrors, that will look like spaceships.

"I don't think that's what we are looking for as an F1.

"I'm not arguing [against] the idea. I think they found a solution that is interesting, but I think in the spirit of what we intend to do, certainly for the future, it is something that we need to discuss."

• Read also: Brawn expects 'a lot of debate' over Mercedes 'extreme' sidepods

Binotto delivered his comments sitting next to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. While he objected to the W13's mirror design the Swiss engineer appeared to give the car's zero-sidepod concept a free pass.

"I think first, looking at the Mercedes car, no doubt it's a great car," he said. "Good concept, quite different to the one we got.

“I think what is interesting – certainly the cooling layout, radiators positioning and the sidepods I think, again, something which looking into it is quite interesting.

"It has gone through a process and the FIA is certainly the one which is responsible for policing and making sure it's fully legal. And I don't think Mercedes is doing something illegal as well."

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