Ross Brawn warns Mercedes of ‘over-interpreting regulations’ as expected protests

Mercedes will likely face official protests over their 2022 car design, which some rivals have suggested is against the new rules.

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Russell excited to start with Mercedes

Mercedes seems to be facing official complaints from them Formula 1 rivals for their “extreme interpretation” of the new rules surrounding car design.

Silver Arrows showcased the design of their W13 last month, ahead of a three-day test session in Barcelona.

However, reports surfaced on Wednesday that, since then, a number of promising simulator runs have resulted in an entirely new design featuring changes to the car’s sidepods.

And those reports proved true as it played out during the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain on Thursday morning.

Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle likened car design to a bar of molten chocolate, with sidepods seemingly non-existent in their new design.

The rules have to be explained, and F1 is no stranger to some pretty radical design.

Sports CEO Ross Brawn know all about it, was the leader of the team that bears his name, the team that made the 2009 title with its double diffuser.

He got his first first look while walking with the team of Sky Sports broadcasters along the pitlane on Thursday morning and gave his opinion on the new design.

“There is no doubt that the Mercedes concept is something we did not anticipate” Brawn said.

“It’s a very extreme interpretation of the regulations and there’s bound to be a lot of debate.

“It’s impressive. I think this is the great thing about innovation in Formula 1.

“It just keeps them within reasonable boundaries and makes no compromises on the goals we want to achieve.

“I think you have to be fair. When a team comes up with an idea with innovation, it’s novel, you shouldn’t penalize it right away.

“But I think, because it’s more understood, and the FIA ​​really as a regulator will know everything that’s going on there.

“We’re not Formula 1 because we don’t have a right to that information, but the managers will know everything that’s going on.

“I think they’re fine with it so far but of course a group can come in and make an objection that the FIA ​​has to look at and then you have a problem.

“I’ve been through it many times where your idea is fine, the FIA ​​agrees it’s fine and a group of people put forward a point of view that hasn’t been considered and has a strong argument.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of discussion about it but it’s impressive. For a set of rules that everyone says are too prescriptive, we’re seeing all these solutions.”