Mercedes ‘loves’ that Red Bull is focusing on F1 engine query - Wolff

Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, it emerged that Red Bull has lodged a query to the FIA relating to a potential ‘trick’ it believes Mercedes is pulling off with the sensors of its power unit that monitor the engine’s inlet plenum temperatures.

Red Bull has asked the FIA to check Mercedes’ power unit to ensure it is not gaining an unfair advantage from engine cooling. F1’s regulations state the plenum air temperature must be at least 10 degrees above the external ambient temperature, something which is policed by FIA sensors.

Mercedes and Red Bull are locked in an intense battle for supremacy in the 2021 title race and the latest query follows a number of earlier accusations aimed at Red Bull by the Mercedes camp relating to flexi-wings and pit stop times.

“We love the fact that they are spending time on these things and researching and we welcome very much any intuitive that they wish to do and then look at it,” Wolff told Sky.

“If that is a distraction for the other teams than that is good.”

Speaking in the press conference later on Friday at Zandvoort, Wolff revealed he had first learned of Red Bull’s query “a couple of days ago.”

“I would wish we had some kind of special solution but it’s the modus operandi in Formula 1, business as usual,” he added.

“Queries are being taken to the FIA, questions are being asked. That’s completely normal.”

Asked to explain the reasoning for the query, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “Well I think, as is the nature with all technical clarifications, they go continually between all the teams.

“Those classifications are usually to ascertain if something is, in the eyes of the governing body, acceptable as a solution. Of course if it is you follow suit.

“But we’ve had numerous of those this year with our car and I think it’s something not unique to Red Bull and this topic certainly isn’t unique to Red Bull.

“That dialogue between the engineers, within their forums, within the technical working groups, is an ongoing process. So I’m sure it doesn’t come as any surprise."