Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said “we love the fact they are spending time on these things” following rumours Red Bull have lodged another complaint about his team to the FIA. Michael Schmidt, of Auto Motor und Sport, said on his YouTube show ‘Formula Schmidt’ that Red Bull has contacted the authorities over Mercedes’ alleged “trick” to bypass Formula 1 engine regulations. Schmidt said they believe Mercedes have placed temperature sensors on their car in a certain place, enabling the W12 to pass FIA temperature tests.
Wolff, 49, was unfazed by the speculation, and said his team would happily accomodate any kind of investigation.
“Well we love the fact that they are spending time on these things and researching!” he said.
“We welcome very much any initiative they wish to do to look at it. That is a distraction. For any other team, that’s good.
“Absolutely used to it and it’s the normal course of events.”
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Schmidt doesn’t belive the complaint will be upheld though.
“I think the trick is legal, but it’s about where the sensors measure the temperatures in the plenum because there is only a certain temperature allowed,” he added.
“I don’t think you’re allowed to be below 10°C (outside temperature), and they claim the sensors are located where it’s always ensured it is warm enough.
“I think that will be cleared up in the next two or three races. If we don’t hear anything, I think what Mercedes is doing is legal.”
Regardless, the saga is likely to further sour relations between Red Bull and Mercedes, with tensions already heightened after Red Bull had protests dismissed following a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix in July.