Bell: McLaren's legality 'a joke'

F1's first controversy of the new season has exploded into acrimony after Renault launched a blistering attack on the FIA just minutes before the start of first practice at Bahrain after the governing body declared McLaren's controversial rear-wing concept legal.

As reported elsewhere on the site in greater detail, it has emerged that the McLaren drivers are effectively 'stalling' their rear wing by interrupting the air flow to the rear of their car by using their knees to close an air tunnel into their cockpit.

Whilst not questioning the legality of the concept, Bob Bell, Renault's technical director, has savaged the decision of the FIA to give McLaren their official seal of approval.

"It is a complete joke," he thundered to the BBC. "It has driven a horse and cart straight through the rule that teams cannot use moveable aerodynamic devices on their cars. It is fundamentally illegally.

"At a time when we are trying to cut costs, this will just start a new arms race. The FIA have acted irresponsibly."

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