Williams have denied claims their front-wing is illegal following comments from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, which suggested it was.
Red Bull’s two cars were excluded from qualifying in Abu Dhabi after the FIA found its front-wings failed load tests – therefore flexed outside the allowed tolerance – during scrutineering.
Horner accepted that they had pushed the regulations to the limit, but suggested rivals, such as Williams, were doing exactly the same and later claimed Red Bull had been singled out.
This was denied by Williams’ performance chief Rob Smedley who confirmed that their FW36 underwent the same load tests and was cleared by the FIA.
“I think the FIA tested quite a few front wing flaps, certainly ours was tested, and it was passed as being legal,” said the Briton.
“We had conversations with the FIA over the weekend, and in the end they were content with what we were doing, that we weren’t infringing the regulations.
“What other teams are doing I can’t really comment on, but certainly we had a legal car.”
He too conceded that teams are pushing the limits of what’s legal and what isn’t and it all depends on how far you choose to push the rules.
“I am sure Horner’s correct that all teams are pushing, it just all depends on how far you are going to push doesn’t it?” he added.
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