Ferrari questions the legality of Mercedes' mirrors
F1. Ferrari's director Mattia Binotto has expressed his views on the unique rear-view mirrors of the Mercedes W13. Their potential aerodynamic function is of particular concern to the Scuderia boss.
While Mercedes arrived at the Bahrain tests with a car that was very different from the one that hit the track in Barcelona, its competitors are questioning. After the invisible sidepods, it is now the mirrors that are raising questions. Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, has commented on the subject to Motorsport.
« On the rearview mirrors, I am a bit surprised. I find them very surprising, and we did not expect this. In principle, it's something that, I think, will have to be discussed in the future. Already in the past, we decided that the rearview mirrors should not have any aerodynamic function. They should only be used for looking behind, » Binotto said.
« I think that in the way they developed their car, the mirrors have an important aerodynamic function. It's something that we have to stop in the future, without a doubt, otherwise teams may start designing mirrors that will look like spaceships. I don't think that's what we want in F1.
» regretted the Italian.
I do not challenge the idea. They found an interesting solution, but I think that in line with what we want to do in the future, it is something we will have to discuss.
The legality of Mercedes' rearview mirrors can be questioned, as Article 3.2.2 of the FIA technical regulations states that: "The aerodynamic influence of any element of the car that is not considered as part of the bodywork must be incidental to its primary function. Any design aiming to maximize such aerodynamic influence is prohibited."
