Red Bull responds to the controversy over testing
Red Bull was criticized this week for conducting an engine test just before the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia last March. The Austrian team issued a response to the release of this information.
The German daily Bild revealed an important piece of information yesterday in its columns regarding possible illegal tests conducted by Red Bull, through Toro Rosso, in conjunction with their engine supplier Renault, at an Austrian factory in Graz.
These tests were reportedly conducted with a single-seater without any wings but with a Renault power unit, on a test bench equipped with a treadmill. Article 5.2 of Appendix 8 of the FIA technical regulations specifies that an engine bench test is possible under certain conditions, which are as follows:
« a) the body used during the test does not have a front wing […] and a rear wing;
b) no device designed to measure, directly or indirectly, aerodynamic forces or flow characteristics is installed in the facilities used;
c) no sensor installed on the car […] capable of measuring displacements, pressures, or the flow directions of an air stream […] is installed;
d) the gas flow exiting the exhaust system is evacuated from the test area before impacting any bodywork element (other than the exhaust itself).
These tests, apparently reported anonymously to the FIA and some teams, would not be illegal if they comply with these provisions. This was confirmed by Red Bull through one of its spokespersons in the columns of The F1 Times: « Red Bull has not conducted tests as outlined in this press article. However, the outlined tests would be allowed by the regulations, but Red Bull has not conducted them. »
As of today, no team has filed an official complaint, but this event is likely to stir up the Formula 1 paddock during this Canadian weekend.
