Red Bull seek clarification on Mercedes steering system as F1 returns in Austria - in pictures

Season restarts after prolonged break with free practice at Austrian Grand Prix on Friday

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, on Friday. AP

Pictures of drivers in the stands before the the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, on Friday. AP

Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia AlphaTauri talks with team member during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring on Friday. Getty

Pierre Gasly prepares to drive during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Getty

Pierre Gasly and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepare for practice at Red Bull Ring in Austria. Getty

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing prepares to drive during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday. Getty

Max Verstappen during practice at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Getty

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari during practice in Spielberg, Austria. Getty

George Russell drives for Williams at the Red Bull Ring.Getty

Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen steers his car during the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix. AFP

Valtteri Bottas during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Getty

Carlos Sainz of McLaren at Red Bull Ring. Getty

Renault's Daniel Ricciardo during practice. Reuters

Racing Point's Sergio Perez steers his car during the first practice session. AFP

Lewis Hamilton drives for Mercedes at the Red Bull Ring. Getty

Pierre Gasly with Pierre Hamlin in Spielberg. Getty

Daniil Kvyat during practice in Spielberg, Austria. Getty

Red Bull are seeking clarification from Formula One's governing body about a new Dual Axis Steering (DAS) system being used by champions Mercedes at this weekend's Austrian season-opener, team boss Christian Horner said on Friday.

The governing FIA has said the system will not be allowed next year, despite the cars remaining essentially the same due to new rules being postponed to 2022, but have not banned it for 2020.

"It's a complicated system, a clever system and obviously we're after some clarifications from the FIA, just start raising some questions about it," Horner told Sky F1.

"It depends what it actually does and achieves. Everything has to earn its place on the car... these rules are so complex, it’s just understanding which parts of the regulations it fits," he added.

The DAS system allows a driver to change the 'toe angle' of the front wheels by pushing and pulling on the steering wheel, rather than just moving it sideways.

Austria will be the first opportunity for Mercedes to race with it, having tried it out in testing in February, and also for teams to lodge a protest against it if so-minded.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton unveiled a new 'Black Lives Matter' helmet design on Friday as Formula One roared back to life in the Styrian Alps in opening practice at the belated season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

The six-time champion, who has been an outspoken supporter of the campaign for equality and diversity since the death of American George Floyd last month, revealed the statement helmet before climbing into his Mercedes in anger for the first time this year.

Hamilton was slow to join the early fray in earnest in the first free practice, not clocking a 'timed' lap until 30 minutes into the 90-minute session, but he swiftly went top of the times half a second clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.