McLaren’s Eric Boullier has accused Mercedes of trying to protect their performance advantage by playing up safety concerns over the proposed 2017 rules.
The sport is set to undergo radical changes in just over a year from now, which will see the cars between five and six seconds quicker per lap.
To get to that figure, the cars will be wider, as will their wings and tyres, whilst the aero rules are set for a revamp.
However Mercedes’ Toto Wolff expressed concerns that the tyres won’t be able to cope with the increased downforce, particularly when under load through a corner and has therefore called for a rethink.
Boullier doesn’t share that opinion and believes Wolff is simply attempting to protect Mercedes’ advantage by calling for fewer changes.
“Not really,” the Frenchman replied when asked if he too was concerned about the safety aspect of the new regulations, which have yet to be finalised.
“I guess it is the usual game where you want to stop some changes – you just argue and go after the safety worries. But it is pretty desperate for Mercedes.”
The FIA has heeded Mercedes calls and has itself asked the teams and Pirelli to simulate the new rules and what loads the tyres might go through, to see if the safety concerns are in fact something to worry about.
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