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Ferrari demanded investigation into Mercedes wheel design, FIA responds

Utkarsh Bhatla
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All through the season, queries for investigation have been raised by Mercedes, as there has constantly been this fear that Ferrari have somehow been bending the rules in order to extract that extra pace and performance from the car.

Mercedes were curious about the battery that Ferrari were using and when initial investigation had revealed that there wasn’t anything suspicious, Mercedes pushed for another sensor to be installed, to check how the battery output was affecting the entire package.

However, this time it was Ferrari’s turn, as they prompted the FIA to investigate the rear wheel rim and hub design that Mercedes had brought to the fore in the last few races.(as reported by Motorsport.com).

Ferrari’s concern was that how Mercedes was allowed to use a wheel design that had multiple holes, a design that was seen in the Red Bull in 2012 and was subsequently banned.

The design was allegedly used to reduce tyre heating and thus help prevent blisters, something that Mercedes have been working on for quite sometime now.

Now, Ferrari wanted to understand what Mercedes were doing differently(to Red Bull) and if it all the FIA knew about it.

FIA have now clarified that what Mercedes are doing is different to what Red Bull were doing in 2012 and that it was completely within regulations.

Mercedes currently lead the constructor’s and the driver’s championship and look on course to wrap up both the titles with Hamilton having a very realistic chance of winning the title in Austin.

With the driver’s championship almost done and dusted, Ferrari would be hoping to somehow snatch the constructor’s championship away from Mercedes in the last 4 races

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