Szafnauer needs aero guidelines modified, hints at authorized motion
Aston Martin crew principal Otmar Szafnauer needs the FIA to vary the aerodynamic rules for this season and has hinted his crew might take into account authorized motion if that doesn’t occur.
Szafnauer is sad that adjustments to the ground rules — pushed via final yr on security grounds to sluggish the vehicles and permit the Pirelli tires to deal with an additional yr’s growth — unfairly deprived the groups that run decrease rake vehicles, particularly Aston and Mercedes. With Aston Martin struggling in Bahrain, Szafnauer is questioning whether or not the fitting course of to introduce a regulation change was adopted and needs the principles modified once more to cut back the influence on his crew.
“I feel the fitting factor to do is have the discussions with the FIA and discover out precisely what occurred and why, after which see if there’s one thing that may very well be carried out to make it extra equitable,” Szafnauer advised Sky Sports activities. “I feel (this yr). Subsequent yr this doesn’t apply.
“I feel that’s the fitting factor to do. We as a crew need to work arduous to attempt to claw again all the things we are able to however on the identical time, we needs to be having these discussions with the FIA to see if something may be carried out to make it a bit extra equitable.”
When requested if it was potential to sue the FIA, Szafnauer says that’s an avenue he would take a look at if adjustments aren’t made this yr.
“I feel we get to that time after the discussions. It’s arduous to foretell. I feel the fitting factor to do is to see what may be carried out.”
Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff agreed that discussions must happen in regards to the reality the aero adjustments had been launched on the idea that the identical Pirelli tires can be used this yr, previous to updating its providing.
“It’s extra nuanced than that as a result of since April there was a bunch of selections and regulatory adjustments, tires had been launched and clearly numerous dialogue,” Wolff added. “I feel the nuances of that’s (essential) to come back to a degree to say, was there any resolution that went in opposition to a selected idea of automobile and wasn’t there. I feel that must be checked out.”
Pink Bull crew principal Christian Horner advised Szafnauer’s feedback is also an overreaction to the state of affairs, given Mercedes’ spectacular tempo on Friday in Imola.
“I’m barely stunned to listen to that,” Horner stated. “I’ve heard rumblings however I haven’t heard it such as you’ve simply spelt out. Firstly we had a pattern of 1 that Mercedes received that race with what you’ll classify as a low-rake automobile, with perhaps equal if not higher tire degradation than what we had in Bahrain. They’ve appeared mighty spectacular right here and we’ve solely run at one circuit up to now.
“However ignoring all of that, there’s a course of for rules to be launched they usually had been voted via unanimously via the completely different rules that Aston Martin or Racing Level would have needed to vote for earlier than being handed via the FIA Fee and the World Council they usually had been all voted via unanimously.
“Now, when there was a entrance wing change a few years in the past, it actually harm us. We voted in opposition to it however you simply have to just accept it, so it might appear a little bit naive to suppose that all of the sudden the principles are simply going to get modified after the pattern of a single race, after the method has been totally adopted. I’m struggling to get my head round that.”
