Mercedes are set to call Red Bull out on their threat to protest should DAS be used at the Australian Grand Prix.
The Dual-Axis Steering system caused a buzz among rivals and tech experts when it was spotted being used during the first week of Formula 1 testing last month.
Despite FIA assurances that it meets the regulations, Red Bull was quick to declare it illegal and advisor Helmut Marko says that belief remains the same.
“For us, the system does not comply with the rules,” he told F1-Insider. “So we will protest when Mercedes uses the system in Melbourne.”
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A spokesperson for the Brackley-based team issued a defiant response, however.
“The season has only just started, and however small the advantage is, it’s unreasonable to give up every advantage we could have over Red Bull and Ferrari,” they told Auto Motor und Sport.
“That’s why we will carry on using the DAS system in our car at the risk of the protest.”
After it also emerged earlier Red Bull had seemingly been successful in questioning the legality of Mercedes’ rear brake ducts earlier this week, could their big innovation be next?