F1 Fanatic

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh says he is “not aware” of any concerns over the legality of the team’s front wing.

A report in Auto Motor und Sport claimed Ferrari had complained to the FIA that the front wing designs of McLaren and Red Bull were flexing too much at speed.

According to the report McLaren introduced the concept on a new front wing design used since the Hungarian Grand Prix and Red Bull followed suit with a similar wing at Singapore.

Speaking in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in Whitmarsh said: “There’s been no specific conversations to my knowledge. That doesn’t mean they haven’t happened but I think I’d probably know.

“I think the regulations require the wings to be rigid. Of course no wing, no aerodynamic surface, is infinitely rigid. From time to time pressures and issues arise between teams who feel that other teams are too flexible, or whatever.

“I don’t think this is any particular problem for McLaren in that regard in the near term and consequently I don’t think it’s anything that will harm us. And also, I’m not aware of anything with Red Bull, incidentally.”

Whitmarsh said the FIA have to “remain vigilant” about the rules to ensure teams “don’t find other ingenious or creative ways to circumvent the intention”.

He added: “From time to time many teams get spoken to by the FIA and expected to correct a situation. We’re not in such a situation ourselves and I’m not aware that it’s going to be an issue.”

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Image © McLaren/Hoch Zwei