Christian Horner urges FIA to ‘look’ into Mercedes and McLaren front wings amidst Red Bull’s slump

Christian Horner iterated that FIA needed to look into Mercedes and McLaren's front wing legality after dominant performances.

Christian Horner urges FIA to ‘look’ into Mercedes and McLaren front wings amidst Red Bull’s slump

Mohammed Ben Sulaym, Toto Wolff, and Christian Horner (Via: Imago)

Red Bull has started to face extreme struggles in performances as showcased at the Italian GP. The team has got something seriously wrong with the chassis that is causing them to lose out on major performance. However, Christian Horner and Co. believed that McLaren and Mercedes might be borderline illegal in terms of their front wing setup.

Mercedes’ front wing in the W15 had already been under investigation during the beginning due to being different from the others. However, FIA cleared the team of any allegations and noted that the front wing was indeed legal. Christian Horner noted that the regulations were clear and FIA had an issue. Horner felt that despite the team clearing the tests, the governing body needed to look into the matter again.

I think the regulations are very clear, and I think that is an FIA issue. Obviously, it is their tests that they passed, but then you have to look at the wording of the regulations.
Christian Horner told racingnews365.com
YouTube video

Apart from this, Horner dug up old records to further strengthen his points regarding the front wings. He pointed out that back in 2021 around the Azerbaijan GP, the front-wing regulations were changed. Hence, back then, Red Bull cleared the tests but weren’t completely legal. The Red Bull boss didn’t hesitate to claim that their own chassis was exploiting air elasticity for better performance.

FS Video
If you look back to 2021, certainly around Baku time, there was a change to the front-wing regulations - and even though our wings passed the test, it was exploiting air elasticity.
Christian Horner added
RELATED
(Video) Max Verstappen gives SARCASTIC smile after ‘nothing went well’ for Red Bull during dismal Italian GP
Max Verstappen

Christian Horner affirmed faith in FIA to ‘deal’ with the issues in Mercedes and McLaren’s chassis

McLaren’s chassis is the most dominant on the grid with Mercedes seemingly improving on performance. Hence, Christian Horner claimed that he trusted FIA to deal with the issues at the earliest. Horner highlighted that if it was acceptable then the team needed to be forced to join their front wings to the nose.

It is an FIA issue, we'll leave it and trust in them to deal with it, but if it is acceptable, then you have to join it.
Christian Horner noted
Christian Horner (via IMAGO)
Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Red Bull is still barely holding onto the championship lead against McLaren (only an eight points gap). It is highly likely to witness a shuffle in the order in the coming races. Hence, the ultimate battle will further build up in competition and excitement, courtesy of the uneven performances of multiple teams on the grid.

In case you missed it: