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Red Bull's Newey claims McLaren copied exhaust
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2011, Friday
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MCLAREN'S much-improved form in Australia last weekend owed a lot to Red Bull, the Formula One world champion's technical director Adrian Newey said on Wednesday. Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel won the season-opener in Melbourne, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton second.
"McLaren made a huge leap forward - by copying our exhaust, it has to be said," Newey said.
"But the bottom line is they still made huge leaps forward. I am sure they will be pushing us hard," added the man who joined Red Bull from McLaren in 2006.
Before Melbourne, last year's runner-up was struggling in testing with a car that was proving neither fast nor reliable.
The Mercedes-powered team then ditched the exhaust system and floor it had tested with and replaced it with what it described as a simpler version.
Williams has also said it hopes to use a similar exhaust by China, the third race of the season, on April 17.
"We think it works for us. It seems it also works for McLaren," said Newey. "It's a form of flattery but it's a bit of a pain if they then beat you with it."
Although Hamilton damaged his car during the race, Vettel was dominant in a car without the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) that gives a power boost at the push of a button. The team removed it due to reliability concerns but Newey hoped it would be able to run it properly next week in Malaysia, the second round.
"If we feel it's reliable then we will try to race it," he said. "We will have to make that decision on Friday evening (at Sepang).
"KERS is a benefit off the start line. So even if you are on the front row, without KERS there's a risk that you won't be first into the first corner."
"McLaren made a huge leap forward - by copying our exhaust, it has to be said," Newey said.
"But the bottom line is they still made huge leaps forward. I am sure they will be pushing us hard," added the man who joined Red Bull from McLaren in 2006.
Before Melbourne, last year's runner-up was struggling in testing with a car that was proving neither fast nor reliable.
The Mercedes-powered team then ditched the exhaust system and floor it had tested with and replaced it with what it described as a simpler version.
Williams has also said it hopes to use a similar exhaust by China, the third race of the season, on April 17.
"We think it works for us. It seems it also works for McLaren," said Newey. "It's a form of flattery but it's a bit of a pain if they then beat you with it."
Although Hamilton damaged his car during the race, Vettel was dominant in a car without the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) that gives a power boost at the push of a button. The team removed it due to reliability concerns but Newey hoped it would be able to run it properly next week in Malaysia, the second round.
"If we feel it's reliable then we will try to race it," he said. "We will have to make that decision on Friday evening (at Sepang).
"KERS is a benefit off the start line. So even if you are on the front row, without KERS there's a risk that you won't be first into the first corner."
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