The Formula 1 world is in an uproar after the Racing Point team, nicknamed “Pink Mercedes” for its striking resemblance to last year’s championship-winning Mercedes car, was penalized for illegally copying Mercedes parts. Despite the ruling, the team is controversially allowed to continue using the contentious components, sparking outrage among rival teams ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Adding fuel to the fire, Mercedes themselves hinted at an uncertain future in Formula 1 beyond 2020, creating a volatile atmosphere in the paddock.
The FIA’s investigation, triggered by protests from the Renault team, concluded that Racing Point had indeed copied the rear brake ducts from the 2019 Mercedes. The verdict, delivered on Friday morning, resulted in a 15-point deduction for Racing Point in the constructors’ championship and a €400,000 fine. However, the decision to permit Racing Point to continue using the brake ducts throughout the season has ignited considerable frustration among competitors.
Renault team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, expressed strong reservations about the leniency of the punishment and suggested an appeal was likely. “The question of sanction is up for debate,” Abiteboul stated. “The advantage that was obviously obtained will keep on going for all the season. And it’s a very material advantage.” This sentiment was echoed by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, whose team has also appealed the decision. Brown didn’t mince words, dismissing Racing Point’s claim of copying through photographs as “BS” (bullshit). “It’s clear from reading the document that is BS. So you have to question everything else around the car,” Brown asserted, highlighting concerns about the continued legality of the “Pink Mercedes”. “I am concerned they still have what was deemed illegal in Austria on the race car now. I think that is confusing for the fans.”
Ferrari, another heavyweight team, has also officially declared their intention to appeal the FIA’s ruling. Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s team principal, argued that copying an entire concept is far more complex than simply replicating brake ducts. “We believe it is not possible to copy and simply understand the full concept behind the car,” Binotto explained. “I don’t think the verdict of today is sufficient because it is only relevant to the brake ducts and not the entire concept, so it is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Renault’s team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, voiced concerns that Racing Point gained a significant advantage from the copied brake ducts, a key element in the “Pink Mercedes” controversy.
In response to the “Pink Mercedes” saga, Formula 1 has pledged to implement immediate measures to prevent similar copycat designs in the future. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s head of single-seaters, confirmed that regulations will be revised for 2021 in agreement with Liberty Media, F1’s owner. “This will prevent teams from using extensive part of photos to copy whole portions of other cars in the way that Racing Point has done,” Tombazis explained. He acknowledged that copying has been a long-standing practice in F1, with teams often reverse-engineering concepts from photographs. However, Tombazis emphasized that “Racing Point took this to another level. They clearly decided to apply this philosophy for the whole car.”, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in Formula 1 design.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, has openly questioned Mercedes’ commitment to Formula 1 beyond the current Concorde Agreement ending in 2020. Wolff pointed out that the proposed new contract, aimed at a fairer distribution of prize money, would make Mercedes “the biggest victim in terms of prize fund loss.” With the agreement deadline looming on August 12th, Wolff insisted that F1 needs to make compromises to ensure Mercedes’ continued participation. “I feel that Mercedes has contributed to the sport over the last years. We have, apart from being competitive on-track, the driver that has clearly the most global appeal,” Wolff stated, highlighting Mercedes’ significant contribution to F1’s success. “We feel that whilst being in those negotiations, we weren’t treated in the way we should have been.”
Despite the off-track turmoil surrounding the “Pink Mercedes” and Mercedes’ future, on-track performance remained dominant for the Silver Arrows at Silverstone. Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, fresh from his victory the previous week, secured a one-two finish in the first practice session. Hamilton continued to lead Bottas in the afternoon session, with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo trailing in third, a significant eight-tenths of a second behind.
The Racing Point car, with its striking resemblance to the 2019 Mercedes, has been a subject of controversy since pre-season testing, quickly earning the moniker “Pink Mercedes.” Racing Point openly admitted to copying the championship-winning 2019 Mercedes, a practice that is not inherently illegal as long as teams design their own “listed parts,” crucial components defined by the regulations.
However, Renault’s protest centered on the front and rear brake ducts. These are not only listed parts but also vital aerodynamic elements that significantly influence airflow and downforce, crucial for Formula 1 car performance. Renault argued that the “Pink Mercedes'” brake ducts were simply too similar to the 2019 Mercedes design to have been independently developed.
The FIA’s investigation corroborated Renault’s claims, concluding that the rear brake ducts were indeed “designed in large part by Mercedes.” Mercedes acknowledged providing Racing Point with information on their 2019 brake ducts, as these were not classified as listed parts at the time. However, a subsequent rule change for the 2020 season mandated that brake ducts must be designed independently by each team. The FIA clarified that had Racing Point sought clarification on the legality of using the 2019 Mercedes rear brake duct design, they would have been informed it was not permissible. Despite cooperating with the FIA investigation, Racing Point did not proactively seek guidance from the governing body regarding the legality of their brake duct design.
Racing Point retains the option to appeal the FIA’s decision, but has not yet indicated their intentions. Adding to their challenges, the team confirmed that Sergio Pérez, who missed the British Grand Prix due to contracting Covid-19, will remain absent for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix after testing positive again. Nico Hülkenberg, who stepped in as a replacement the previous week, will continue to deputize for Pérez. The “Pink Mercedes” controversy and its implications continue to dominate the Formula 1 narrative as teams prepare for the weekend’s racing action.
