- McLaren news
Red Bull pegged back by flexi-tests - Hamilton
ESPNF1 Staff
September 30, 2010
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Lewis Hamilton lost out on points in Singapore after contact with Mark Webber © Sutton Images
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- Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is convinced Red Bull's performance has been pegged back by the ramped up wing flexibility tests since the Belgian Grand Prix.
McLaren led calls for stricter tests after footage from the German and Hungarian Grand Prix showed the Red Bull's front wing getting very close to the ground, creating a potential aerodynamic advantage. At Spa Francorchamps stricter front wing tests were introduced before the loading tests on the front of the floor of the car were also increased at Monza.
Red Bull denies having to make any major changes above and beyond its rivals, but when Hamilton was asked, he was convinced it had made a difference.
"Good question," he told Bild newspaper on a visit to Berlin this week. "In Hungary they were two seconds per lap faster than the rest of us. It is simply impossible to have a lead like that."
When asked specifically if he thinks Red Bull was cheating earlier in 2010, Hamilton answered: "We have always kept to the rules. Our people wondered if their car was legal and we asked the FIA. After that Red Bull had to rebuild their car and take a step back. It was a good decision by the FIA."
He was also asked about the apparent psychological warfare being deployed by his championship rivals at present, particularly by his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.
"It's normal that, at the end of a season, the mind games begin. I'm strong enough and ready for it. I'm not worried, but I think it's best if you just do your talking on the track," said Hamilton.
Hamilton said he was not overly concerned by the gap in points to Red Bull's Mark Webber at the top of the drivers' championship, which he insists looks bigger than it is under the new scoring system.
"I spoke with the team on Sunday night, and we looked at things in their proper perspective: I'm still third overall in the points table, and I'm 20 points off the championship leader," he said. "That's still less than a race win - it's easy to get disheartened by being 20 points away, because it sounds such a lot, but under last year's rules, that's only about eight points - and to be eight points off with four races left is nothing really."
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