The FIA has closed the case involving Red Bull's controversial front bib ride height adjuster on its RB20 car, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes we haven't heard the last of the “outrageous” device.
The technical, intrigue which erupted ahead of last weekend's US Grand Prix, sparked a lively debate in the paddock and calls for a thorough investigation by the FIA to determine whether Red Bull had exploited its system in parc fermé conditions, which would have been strictly prohibited .
While the governing thoroughly examined the system and ramped up its scrutiny of Red Bull, by implementing a sealing system to ensure the device remained unchanged between qualifying and the race, its head of single-seater matter Nikolas Tombazis ultimately declared the controversy a “non- story”.
However, Wolff believes that the situation is far from resolved, as he hinted that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem may be pressured to take further action.
"My view is, from the distance of what I've seen and what I've heard, it's outrageous," Wolff commented.
For Wolff, it was clear that the level of engineering involved raised red flags, as he questioned the real purpose behind Red Bull's sophisticated mechanism.
"I think we're all designing parts that are F1 standard, and that are to the highest specifications that are within the regulations,” he explained.
"Sometimes on things like aero elasticity, you would probably try to go as far as you can — but there's other things overall and certain parts where you would question why they exist.
"Why would you design such a thing and put two marks on it for two positions, like you want to (change things)? Is that the precise decision-making [we have] in F1?"
Wolff also took aim at Red Bull's demonstration to the FIA, where the team showcased the tool they allegedly used to adjust the bib height. He liked the presentation to a farcical display, again casting doubt on the true purpose of the device.
"I really like that when they put this real broom [device] in the car to demonstrate that that is the only way of that getting changed! I wonder how long it took them to make this up, and to stick it in there,” I have added.
"I didn't know that in F1, we were using such Bugs Bunny devices. It's not good enough to say that this is it, and we promise that we are not going to do it again.”
Although Tombazis declared the matter settled ahead of last Sunday's US Grand Prix, Wolff implied that Red Bull's explanations left much to be desired and suggested that the FIA's leadership could still intervene.
"I cannot speak for the FIA at all. I cannot speak for Nikolas," the Mercedes chief said. "Obviously, that's something that's not been spotted for a long time.
"But I think the leadership of the FIA is going to look at that, and say, 'What are we doing with this?'"
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