- European leg of season opens in fractious atmosphere
- Aston Martin’s new design dubbed the ‘green Red Bull’
Formula One opened the European leg of the season in sweltering temperatures and an appropriately heated and fractious atmosphere in the paddock. Fernando Alonso launched a scathing attack on the FIA, the sport’s governing body, for which he faces a potential punishment, while Red Bull in turn expressed scorn and disbelief at Aston Martin, who were accused of copying the design of their car.
Before practice had even begun at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya the brickbats were flying. Aston Martin, who have been off the pace all season, wheeled out the updated version of their AMR22 car, which bore a striking resemblance to the mightily quick Red Bull RB18, with which Max Verstappen has already won three races this season.