Kolles threatens exhaust protest in Monaco

HRT team boss Colin Kolles is threatening to protest the legality of most rival cars in Monaco this weekend.

He said in Barcelona he is unhappy with what he calls "illegal" blown exhaust configurations, vowing to possibly protest at "some time" in the Principality.

The threat follows the FIA crackdown on "hot exhaust" blowing through sophisticated diffuser systems, but that ban will not be rigorously enforced for a few more races.

But Charlie Whiting admitted in Spain that a protest before then cannot be ruled out.

"If this (hot exhaust blowing) is not going to be stopped before Monaco we have no other choice than to make a protest," Kolles is quoted as saying by the BBC.

The move would further isolate struggling Hispania, the only team in pitlane not a member of the teams organisation FOTA.

"I would have thought he (Kolles) had bigger issues than exhaust blowing at the minute," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that Kolles’ Monaco protest would theoretically affect 16 cars; the entire field except HRT, Virgin, Sauber and Force India.

The report said Williams may be affected due to the FW33 using the method known in the paddock as "cold (diffuser) blowing".