{"id":300769,"date":"2023-11-28T14:25:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=300769"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:25:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:25:10","slug":"christian-horner-launches-pink-mercedes-dig-after-red-bull-come-under-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/racing\/f1\/christian-horner-launches-pink-mercedes-dig-after-red-bull-come-under-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Horner launches \u2018pink Mercedes\u2019 dig after Red Bull come under fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Christian Horner has dismissed ideas that the closer cooperation between Red Bull and AlphaTauri next season will lead to a repeat of the \u2018pink Mercedes\u2019 saga that surrounded Racing Point – now rebranded to Aston Martin – during the 2020 F1 season.<\/p>\n

The Racing Point challenger of that year resembled Mercedes\u2019 2019 car to such an extent that rivals couldn\u2019t help but compare the two, providing the origin of the \u2018pink Mercedes\u2019 moniker due to the striking BWT livery design. It was later discovered that the RP20\u2019s brake ducts breached the regulations following a protest lodged by Renault.<\/p>\n

As a result of these findings, Racing Point were fined \u00a3347,000 (\u20ac400,000) and deducted 15 points, and the saga proved an unwanted distraction for multiple teams in the paddock as arguments over the car\u2019s legality, as well as the severity of the punishment, dragged on throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Concerns relating to Red Bull and AlphaTauri\u2019s relationship moving forward were sparked earlier this season when Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung<\/em>: \u201cThe orientation is clear: based on Red Bull Racing, as far as the regulations allow. Do-it-yourself constructions are the wrong way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Red Bull team principal gave an insight into the partnership after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, stating: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t discussed in the Commission. But no. I mean, we\u2019re an awfully long way away from a pink Mercedes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s some transferable components that are clearly listed within the regulations that you\u2019re allowed to supply. And that\u2019s what they get. When you look at the car, there\u2019s quite fundamental differences between their car and a Red Bull Racing car.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd arguably, there\u2019s other cars on the grid, which are far closer in concept than an AlphaTauri is. You\u2019ve only got to look at an Aston Martin or even a McLaren. If you look around the rear suspension of McLaren, it\u2019s very close in concept to that of our own.<\/p>\n

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