Lewis Hamilton says it is “no secret” that Formula 1’s new aerodynamic rules were introduced to try and rein in Mercedes’ adv🤡antage over the rest of the field.

Teams have been required to carry-over a significant portion&nbs𓃲p;of their 2020 cars iꩲnto this season as part of a major cost-saving exercise, but changes were made to the rear of the floor in a bid to reduce downforce levels and slow the cars down.

Mercedes has dominated the V6 hybrid era by winning seven world championship doubles in a row but Hamilton was beaten to pole position by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the season-opening Bahraဣin Grand Prix by almost four-tenths of a second.

It came off the back of Mercedes’ struggles in pre-season testing and amid the suggestion that its lower-rake concept has been hit harder by the floor changes compared to the high-rake approach taken by Red Bul♊l.

On Friday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff conceded that the team’s analysis had shown that to be the case and said it was 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“physically not possible” for the Brackley-based o𓂃utfit to make its W12♒ a high-rake car this season.

Asked whet💝her he felt the rule changes had been introduced specifically to influence the pecking order, Hamilton replied: “I mean it’s no secret that the changes, of course they⭕’ve been done to peg us back.

“We had the changes🌠 of course last year to our engine to do the same thing.

“But that's OK, we love a challenge and we don't look down on these things, we just work hard🎐 to do the best we can.🃏 And that's what we'll do.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas said he had “no answer” ♌when pressed for a response♓ on the matter.

“I like aero stuff, I’m a bit of a geek in some ways, like aerodynamics, I’m really interested but I don’t know the facts, how exactly what’s the aero philosophy of the Red Bull,” the🐽 Finn added.

"Yes, it’s higher rake, but how much that’s goi🌱ng to affect 🍨with the new regulations I don’t know. I think they’ve really got a strong package overall, the power unit, the chassis, the aero are good.

“They did a good job over the winter🦋, so we need to do a better job.”