Vettel - Red Bull to further 'enhance' traction system

Sebastian Vettel on Spa with his Red Bull RB9

Red Bull is perfecting a "system" that is mimicking the effects of banned traction control, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported on Thursday.

The magazine said the complex electronic mapping system, although entirely legal, is able to put Renault's V8 engine down to just four-cylinders under certain circumstances.

"I am sure for the races to come that we will be able to enhance the system even further -- to profit even more," world champion Sebastian Vettel told F1's official website.

He told reporters: "Other people will never figure out how we've done it."

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on Thursday stirred the pot by admitting Vettel's traction in Singapore was not normal.

"The last time I was able to put the pedal down that quick was back in 2007 or 2008, when we had traction control," he said.

But Ferrari's Fernando Alonso admitted Red Bull, whose engine he said has been emitting the odd tones in corners all season long, is doing nothing wrong.

"They are using something different compared to the other teams but something that is completely ok," he is quoted by the BBC.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, however, admitted the rumours were frustrating.

"So we're running traction control through the ECUs which are supplied by McLaren and approved by the FIA?" he bristled at reporters.

"You'd have to be pretty stupid," added Horner.

✅ Check out more posts with related topics: