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SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 16: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 16, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 16: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 16, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The technical directives introduced by the FIA mid-season have certainly caused a lot of tension among the F1 teams. Teams like Red Bull and Ferrari are against the idea of a mid-season rule change, while Mercedes agrees the FIA needs to step in to deal with porpoising issues. The issue has reignited the rivalry and war of words between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff.
Horner has repeatedly called out his Austrian counterpart and his behavior in the team principal’s meetings. As reported by Express. co. uk, Wolff ‘lost his sh*t’ in the team principal’s meeting in Canada. He also mentioned having told Wolff to get his “own house in order”.
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This is certainly a plot point in an already exciting season. Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have called for the rules to change amid porpoising issues they experienced in the races.
READ MORE: Why do Mercedes dominate F1?
Earlier in the French GP weekend, Horner had hinted that the German team might lobby for a rule change. However, he doubled down and retorted that half of the grid is against that.
Red Bull team boss calls out Toto Wolff for lobbying for F1 rule change
It is a known fact that F1 teams will go to any lengths to gain a strategic advantage over their rivals. Regardless, Horner was not one bit pleased Mercedes is calling for a mid-season regulation change.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 24: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the garage during Day Two of F1 Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 24, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
“Ride the car higher. It’s easy. We haven’t had a problem all year. There’s only one team that’s had a big problem. We’ve got some of the most talented engineers in the world in this sport and I can almost guarantee you that if we came back next year, there will be no cars, probably with issues.
For this season, I’ve got no issues. If the team were to have an issue with anybody else’s car, they should protest it,” said Horner to Sky Sports.
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It would be interesting to see which directions the FIA goes to solve the issue. They are under immense pressure from the opposing constructors; especially those hinting at the change being made for Mercedes. Hopefully, we will get a solution to porpoising soon.
