Vettel team suddenly unveils "green Red Bull" - competition rages over "incredible copy"

Created: 05/22/2022, 12:30 p.m

By: Marius Epp

Aston Martin is struggling with renewed allegations of cheating.

Has Sebastian Vettel's team used someone else's ideas again?

Barcelona - Change was needed.

Sebastian Vettel's dark green company car was simply too slow in the first races of the new Formula 1 season.

So, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, ​​Aston Martin reacted by providing the Heppenheimer with a B version of the car - which no longer bears much resemblance to the original model.

But with one of the competition.

Red Bull in particular was amazed when the covers fell off in the first practice session on Friday: The new Aston Martin looks amazingly similar to the car of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

In principle, the chassis is almost identical, as photos show.

Formula 1: Red Bull raises serious allegations against Vettel's Aston Martin team

The car has long been mockingly christened the “green Red Bull” by the other teams.

The racing team from Silverstone is a repeat offender and caused a stir in 2020 under the previous name Racing Point with a "pink Mercedes".

At that time it was a copy of the previous year's Mercedes, which the FIA ​​​​sanctioned with a fine and deduction of points.

Red Bull Motorsport Director Helmut Marko calls for an investigation: "We now have to clarify how this incredible copy came about.

You have to take into account that seven people were recruited from us.

There is evidence that data was downloaded.

We will look into the matter in detail.”

This season, too, things are going modestly for Sebastian Vettel.

© GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP

Aston Martin's team boss Mike Krack left the serious allegations cold.

Vettel's boss instead referred to an investigation by the FIA.

The world motorsport association had carefully examined the new aerodynamic parts and came to the conclusion that no rules had been violated.

Technical Officer Andrew Green also spoke of "completely unfounded allegations".

Formula 1: Vettel too slow again despite major updates

However, copying is not prohibited in Formula 1 - data theft is.

And that's exactly what Red Bull Aston Martin accuses.

Whether the action still has consequences remains to be seen.

In any case, the conversion was initially not worthwhile for Aston Martin: With Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, both drivers were eliminated in Barcelona in Q1 and will start from 16th and 18th place (all information about qualifying can be found here).

For Vettel, one question is becoming more and more important: How much longer will I be able to do this?

With an inferior car, not only does he have no chance of a top place, now there is also trouble.

Formula 1 expert Marc Surer firmly expects his career to end after the season.

You can read our detailed interview with him here.