If my memory serves correctly, the tire compound was changed because of the blow-outs in Baku right? Red Bull has had the advantage in tire performance for most of the Pirelli era excluding the last two years when Mercedes finally figured out how to not kill the tires. Chopping the floor and restricting engine modes has done more in RB's favor than beefing up the compounds. Not to mention DAS, FRIC, and other Mercedes innovations that were banned in the turbo-hybrid era.
RB used to push the envelope with innovative tech, especially with the off-throttle blown diffusers, but now it seems they spend more time lobbying to pull other teams back (Not giving Ferrari a pass on their fuel flow shenanigans. That was clearly cheating). Merc has operated within the FIA rule-set, to the point of even having the FIA review their design for DAS and getting it approved. It still ended up getting banned in 2021 because "oh man, we didn't come up with that!"
While operating in the gray area is a usual thing in this sport, I have no sympathy for RB.
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