Red Bull modifies car amid FIA compliance measures

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

AUSTIN – In a significant development in Formula 1, Red Bull Racing has agreed to make changes to their RB20 car following a directive from the FIA that prohibits mechanisms allowing ride height adjustments during parc ferme conditions.

The update follows complaints from rival teams at the Singapore Grand Prix, who argued that such adjustable devices could contravene F1's stringent parc ferme rules, which permit only minimal changes such as front wing flap adjustments after qualifying.

Red Bull's senior management confirmed the existence of the device on cars driven by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, clarifying their commitment to FIA compliance.

"Yes, it exists although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run," a Red Bull executive explained. "We've been in ongoing dialogue with the FIA about this component and have jointly identified a path forward."

Understanding the dynamics of car setup, teams typically seek a lower ride height for qualifying performance, raising it for races to prevent damage as the fuel load increases. A controversial device allowing easy "bib" or "tea tray" height changes could have allowed Red Bull to optimize both scenarios without detection.

The FIA has not identified any team explicitly using such a system but remains steadfast in its regulatory vigilance. An FIA statement reinforced the prohibition of any ride height adjustments during parc ferme, with new procedural measures, including possible sealing of components, to prevent violations.

The revelation of Red Bull's device stemmed from transparent documentation shared with the FIA. Max Verstappen responded to the news by stating that the tool was intended merely to facilitate setup adjustments during maintenance.

"It's open source, right? Everyone can see it," Verstappen remarked. "It was just for convenience when the car is disassembled, not usable when the car is fully assembled. I was unaware others perceived it as an issue."

Despite leading much of the season, Red Bull now finds itself trailing McLaren by 41 points in the constructors’ standings with six races left, including three sprints. Lando Norris of McLaren has significantly reduced his deficit from 78 to 52 points to Verstappen since August.

Oscar Piastri, Norris' teammate, gave his insights:

"I wasn't aware Red Bull had confirmed this," Piastri commented. "While pushing technical limits is part of F1, this seems beyond a boundary and into rule-breaking."

With the championship battle heating up, the focus will be on how Red Bull adapts to these changes and their impact on the standings as the season races to its conclusion.

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