Helmut Marko Not Surprised by Mercedes Front Wing Scrutiny
Red Bull Racing team consultant Helmut Marko said he was not surprised by the attention Mercedes’ new front wing received. Since the German team introduced this update in Monaco, Mercedes has seen a significant improvement in performance, culminating in its best weekend of the season so far during the Canadian Grand Prix.
In Canada, George Russell achieved the first pole position and podium of the year for Mercedes, finishing third, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fourth, achieving his best result of 2024. These results raised doubts to rival teams, especially for the flexibility of the new Mercedes front wing.
German portal Auto Motor und Sport reports that Red Bull is particularly wary of the front wings used by Mercedes, suggesting a possible new flexible wing saga in Formula 1. However, Helmut Marko denied that Red Bull had asked the FIA to investigate the Mercedes wing design.
“They have a new front wing and in the TV footage from Montreal you can clearly see that the arms of Russell and Hamilton are clearly bending,” Marko told Austrian newspaper OE24. He explained that although the wings had the necessary strength when they were adopted, it is common for teams to push the limits to gain a competitive advantage.
“I don’t know how many times we had to check our wings,” continued Marko. “There is a precisely defined procedure with the weights under which an arm should not bend. It’s a popular game of pushing everything to the limit to pass technical inspection. During the race, the wing then lowers, which provides better aerodynamics.”
Helmut Marko has revealed that Formula 1 teams will be subject to new FIA controls ahead of the Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix. “This was shown repeatedly when the deformation was clearly visible on television images,” he added. “Everything was fine in Montreal. There will be a re-inspection for Barcelona and Spielberg etc, and it should be fine again. Of course, the competition is looking at this critically, not just us.”
Marco’s words reflect an understanding of the competitive dynamic within Formula 1, where each team seeks to explore the limits of the technical regulations to gain an advantage. It emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for strict oversight to maintain competitive balance.
In short, Helmut Marko is not surprised by the attention being paid to Mercedes’ front wing, admitting that pushing the technical limits is common practice in the sport. Red Bull, like other teams, will continue to critically monitor rivals’ innovations to ensure fair and balanced competition.
