07/04/2011
NEWS STORY
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has dismissed speculation regarding the legality of his team's car. However, while admitting that rivals' suspicions are flattering, the constant speculation is frustrating.
When Sebastian Vettel took pole in Melbourne by over three-quarters of a second without KERS, his nearest rival, Lewis Hamilton, was visibly stunned. As speculation began to build about the RB7's pace without the aid of KERS got underway, attention shifted to the front wing which some claim is flexing at speed, just as was claimed in 2010.
Speaking to reporters in Sepang today, Horner was asked about the rumours. It started off innocently enough with the Englishman responding: "We take it is a compliment to be honest."
However, as the pressure for an explanation of the car's superiority continued, Horner's frustration was obvious, not only in terms of his demeanour but his reply.
"Shall I explain in very basic words how it works?" he said, a slight trace of a sneer appearing across his face. "McLaren have developed a car that has a very low rear-ride height, and therefore a low front wing for them doesn't work. We run quite a high rake angle in our car. So inevitably when the rear of the car is higher, the front of the car is going to be lower to the ground.
"It is obvious science," he continued, "and therefore our wing complies fully with the regulations. It will look lower to the ground because the rake in the car is higher, but it is simple mathematics. I think our front wing has been tested more than any other in the pit lane, and it complies with the regulations, which is what we have to do. We don't have to pass a McLaren test, we have to pass an FIA one, and it complies fully with that.
"McLaren have developed a car that is effectively a different philosophy to ours," he added. "So the benefit we see from the front wing is different to the one they would see, and that is the basis behind it fundamentally."