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Red Bull has announced changes to its car following discussions with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA). This was prompted by rival teams raising concerns about a device in the Red Bull cockpit. This device was believed to have the potential to adjust the height of the car's front floor, which could allow modifications to the car's setup between qualifying and race sessions. This practice is not permitted under parc ferme regulations.
A Red Bull spokesperson confirmed to BBC Sport, "Yes, [the device] exists, although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run. In the numerous correspondence we have with the FIA, this part came up and we have agreed a plan going forward."
Under current regulations, teams cannot make changes to their car's setup from the start of qualifying, except for adjusting the front wing angle. The device in question relates to the 'bib' or 'tea-tray,' which is the front section of the car's floor.
The FIA issued a statement emphasizing, "Any adjustment to the front bib clearance during parc ferme conditions is strictly prohibited by the regulations. While we have not received any indication of any team employing such a system, the FIA remains vigilant in our ongoing efforts to enhance the policing of the sport. As part of this, we have implemented procedural adjustments to ensure that front bib clearance cannot be easily modified. In some cases, this may involve the application of a seal to provide further assurance of compliance."
Max Verstappen, the leader in the drivers' championship for Red Bull, remarked that the changes would not affect performance. He stated, "For us, it was just an easy tool. When the parts were off, it was easy to adjust. But once the whole car is built together, you can’t touch it. So, for us it doesn’t change (anything). When I read it, I was thinking about other teams doing it. And then I found out it was related to our team. We never even mentioned it in the briefings, it was just an easier tool to adjust stuff."
McLaren's Lando Norris, who is competing against Verstappen for the drivers' title, added, "It’s one thing having it on your car and another how much you exploit and use it, which we have no idea on. If they have been using it in the way people think they have, maybe it will shift things, but they have not got several poles and wins just for such a device. I don’t think it will change anything. But when you see poles decided by thousandths, you might say maybe it will change something."
Sources indicate that the FIA was made aware of the device during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend last month, as rival teams identified it in open-source component documents that teams are required to submit regarding their car designs. Adjusting the floor height could help teams optimize their performance between qualifying, where a lower setup is preferable, and racing, which often benefits from a higher ride height.
The F1 season is set to resume this weekend with the United States Grand Prix at Austin's Circuit of the Americas after a four-week hiatus.
