Red Bull is planning to seek clarification from the FIA regarding the legality of Mercedes’ dual-axis steering system after it was used in practice for the Austrian Grand Prix.

During winter testing back in February, Mercedes’ 2020 challenger was spotted featuring a steering device that could be operated by the driver from the cockpit.

The DAS system allows for an adjustment to be made to the cars toe angle, creating less drag on the straights and reducing tyre wear in the corners.

Before this year’s world championship was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Red Bull had made its intentions to protest its rivals’ design in Australia well known.

As the first practice session got underway at the Red Bull Ring, Mercedes confirmed it was in fact running DAS with a view to also using it in Sunday’s race.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 during FP1 in Austria, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he would be going to the FIA for clarification on the DAS system.

“We’ll wait to see if it is fitted to their cars,” Horner said. “Obviously it’s a complicated system, it’s a clever system.

“We’re after some clarifications from the FIA, and start raising some questions about it.”

Although DAS has been mandated for this year’s regulations, Formula 1’s governing body has already moved to ban the device for 2021.

This is despite that all teams will carry over their 2020 cars to next season as part of a freeze on car development ahead of the new technical regulations coming into force in 2022.