Lewis Hamilton’s all-conquering Mercedes team have been dragged into Formula One’s latest ‘cheat’ storm on the eve of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Racing Point were docked 15 points and fined STG361,000 ($A655,000) on Friday after they were found guilty of copying parts of Hamilton’s title-winning 2019 machine.
A 14-page dossier issued in the wake of the FIA’s investigation, revealed that Mercedes had supplied a complete set of last year’s brake ducts to Racing Point on January 6.
It was also established that Mercedes provided Racing Point with computer-aided design models for the parts which assisted them in building this year’s car, which has been dubbed the “Pink Mercedes” given its likeness to the machine Hamilton drove to a sixth world title.
Formula One’s governing body ruled that the transfer of brake ducts did not constitute a “significant breach of the sporting regulations”, and the transferring of data as within the rules.
But some in the Silverstone paddock were on Friday questioning why Mercedes assisted Racing Point.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff enjoys a good relationship with Racing Point co-owner Lawrence Stroll. Wolff is a shareholder in Aston Martin, also controlled by Stroll, who will return to the grid in place of Racing Point in 2021.
Racing Point, whose performances have greatly improved this season, had previously claimed that their car was designed simply on photographs of last year’s Mercedes.
“The investigation has thrown up a lot more questions than answers and there is new evidence that we are able to see,” said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown on Friday.
“Obviously Racing Point claimed that they had copied the car via photography. It’s clear from reading the document that that is BS (b*******).
“And therefore you have to question everything else around that car. This is potentially the tip of the iceberg, the starting point of what has happened here.
“It’s not healthy for the sport. It is something that we are going to review quickly so that we are able to understand the process and if that’s something we want to potentially participate in.”
Renault, who have protested the Racing Point car after all four races so far this year, are now weighing up whether to appeal the FIA’s verdict.
On track, Hamilton, who holds a 30-point championship lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas, finished fastest in practice for Sunday’s race at Silverstone.
Hamilton will move to within three victories of Michael Schumacher’s win record of 91 if he triumphs again on Sunday.
He will also equal the German’s all-time tally of 155 career podiums if he finishes in the top three.
