Mercedes Red Bull battle has forced 'increased technical clarity' - FIA

FIA race director Michael Masi has declared that this year's F1 title fight between Red Bull and Mercedes has forced his hand into issuing numerous technical clarifications.

The teams have started to become frustrated that F1 is now becoming over-regulated and that a new technical directive is being issued after every race. Such documents are designed to close or tighten loopholes in the rules.

The most notable ones this season have centred around the flexing of wings, tyre pressures in the wake of the blowouts involving Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Baku, and most recently the speed of pit stops.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has been left fuming with the latter, while Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur claims the constant issuance of TDs "is not the right way".

Responding to the concerns, Masi said: "Obviously, with a number of areas going on and with an increased…let’s call it the battle at the front, that has certainly heated up a lot more than what we have seen in quite a while.

"So the need for clarification, or operational guidance and directives in certain areas, yes, has increased.

"But I think that has also increased as a direct result of what is going on with the competitive order on track.

“I wouldn’t call it a governance mechanism but it is certainly a way to try and communicate with all of the teams of the way certain regulations may, from an internal technical department perspective, be interpreted or the certain procedures that may be followed to determine compliance or otherwise.

“The clarity around those is everyone always wants more clarity in certain areas, hence the number of them.”

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