Why Christian Horner Is Finally Happy With Mercedes

Even though the 2021 championship has been pretty close, the one area where Mercedes have held the upper hand especially in recent times has been straight-line speed. Red Bull have suggested in the past that Mercedes may be gaining an unfair advantage with their rear wing. A new test for rear wings was conducted in Qatar and Red Bull feel that this has brought things back on par

Link to poll: https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx5Ddc25KEq6nTts0aZV4knkBRpUBVoKEP
0:00 - Did New Wing Test Reduce Mercedes’ Straight-line Advantage?
1:50 - Fast Feed

I'm your host Dillon Shelley and first up on Formula World:

Did New Wing Test Reduce Mercedes’ Straight-line Advantage?

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner began by reiterating his doubts as quoted by Autosport

“I think what we have seen in recent races is an abnormal straight-line speed. I think Toto [Wolff] has been at pains to point out that there have been gains in straight-line speed when nothing has changed”

He then stated that Red Bull were able to match Mercedes’ straight-line speed in Qatar

“But it's encouraging that this is the first race since prior to Silverstone we've been able to match their straight-line speed and an exponential increase in races”

He summed up his words by giving his thoughts on the rear wing tests introduced in Qatar

"I think that I am glad to see it is being well policed. I'm confident that the tests that have been introduced should eradicate any ability to circumnavigate”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, meanwhile, spoke to Motorsport and gave his thoughts on these statements by Horner

“[Qatar is] a track that is less power-sensitive, and interestingly I think they've just done a good job: their straight-line speed with the big wing (high downforce) is identical to ours. So yeah, I'm happy that they are happy”

He signed off by revealing what he thinks about these allegations

"Let's go to Saudi Arabia and maybe we'll hear some comments again. In a way, the debates that are being kicked off or launched, I cannot follow anymore. I have taken the decision for myself and the team that we're struggling to keep up with commenting on the rumours that are being made from that side”


Fast Feed

Williams CEO Jost Capito feels that George Russell “can challenge [Lewis] Hamilton” [Sport 1]

“I have worked with many drivers, but George is really excellent. Also, how he can get a team behind him is impressive. At 23 he is already incredibly professional”

“George is mentally, driving-wise and technically strong enough to put pressure on Lewis. That's what he wants too”

Pascal Picci, former director of Sauber, has revealed that he “resigned as managing director of the Sauber Group a few days before the Mexican GP” [Motorsport]

“I no longer want to be associated with the management of Fred Vasseur”

“The way the drivers [for 2022] have been chosen has been a breaking point in the relationship with the current management”

FIA President Jean Todt is of the opinion that “if Pierre Gasly were driving a Mercedes or a Red Bull today, he would make things very difficult for everyone” [beIN Sports]

“I don't know if he would win a world title, but at least he would be on the same level as the teammates of Verstappen and Hamilton”

“'There are maybe two or three drivers who have something extra, but what makes the biggest difference is the car they get. Fernando Alonso is an exceptional driver, but today he doesn't have a car with which he can win”

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko feels that “when Mercedes saw that [Red Bull] were equal or even faster, they first came up with flexi wings and then with all kinds of other sham arguments” [Motorsport]

“We took those actions as a very unsportsmanlike gesture and then we also focused on what was happening at Mercedes, for example with those wings”

“That all comes into play when the battle is as intense as it is this year and especially when someone is not used to another team being able to offer competition”


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