Red Bull to stick with controversial suspension

40

Red Bull will continue to use a controversial suspension concept in 2017, according to Germany's Auto Bild motorsport publication.

It had been reported the Mercedes-pioneered, hydraulically-networked system that mimics active suspension had been banned by the FIA, following a letter to the governing body from Ferrari.

The Scuderia’s chief designer Simone Resta had sought clarification over whether it was legal to implement a system that would essentially replicate the banned Front and Rear InterConnected (FRIC) concept in this way, without connecting the front and the rear wheels.

Ferrari query over suspension concept leads to controversy

La Gazzetta dello Sport had claimed the FIA ruled out the latest design concepts, used in 2016 by Mercedes and Red Bull, on the basis they were being used for aerodynamic effect.

But now Auto Bild claims that only Ferrari's proposed 2017 version has actually been declared illegal by the FIA,.

Red Bull motorsport consultant Dr Helmut Marko confirmed: "We can't use it 100 per cent [in 2017], but we can still use it."

When asked about the controversy, former F1 designer Gustav Brunner told Speed Week: "I do not believe it will be a big deal in Australia, as by then everyone will probably have such a system on their car."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.