Update: Red Bull request to frustrate Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes ‘thrown out’ by FIA

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has ‘thrown out’ a complaint about Mercedes’ perceived engine gains in 2021. Red Bull and Ferrari raised concerns over Mercedes’ ‘trick’ to cool their plenum, which distributes air around the power unit, but the FIA has ‘shot them down’.

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have been engaged in a hotly-contested battle with Red Bull and Max Verstappen throughout the 2021 season. But things recently took a political turn when Red Bull joined forces with Ferrari to complain about their title rivals’ engine.

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has ‘thrown out’ a complaint about Mercedes’ perceived engine gains in 2021. Red Bull and Ferrari raised concerns over Mercedes’ ‘trick’ to cool their plenum, which distributes air around the power unit, but the FIA has ‘shot them down’.

Lewis Hamilton’s boss Toto Wolff considering unprecedented risky move Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have been engaged in a hotly-contested battle with Red Bull and Max Verstappen throughout the 2021 season. But things recently took a political turn when Red Bull joined forces with Ferrari to complain about their title rivals’ engine.

An Auto Motor und Sport report has revealed that the complaint wasn’t taken further, though, stating: “Weakening the opponent did not work.” “Red Bull’s request to the FIA for the alleged Mercedes trick of cooling the plenum came to nothing.” Red Bull driver programme boss Helmut Marko has stated that the decision means Mercedes and Hamilton now hold an advantage, especially on the straights.

“The longer the straights are, the more [time] we [Red Bull] lose, from the beginning to the end,” Marko explained. Hamilton currently leads Verstappen by two points in the World Drivers’ Championship after securing his 100th Grand Prix triumph in Sochi last weekend. But the latter flew through the field after receiving an engine-related grid penalty to finish in second and maintain the pressure on Hamilton.