The FIA is inspecting front bib adjusters on various Formula 1 cars at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, following suspicions that Red Bull may have been using the device in parc ferme.
The saga has captivated the F1 paddock at Austin, after Red Bull admitted it had such a device at the centre of the controversy that followed the revelation by Autosport that the FIA had moved to clampdown on such parts following the Singapore GP.
Ahead of FP1 at the Circuit of the Americas, McLaren team boss Zak Brown called for the FIA to conduct a “very thorough investigation” into the matter.
After the only one-hour practice session for this weekend’s sprint event, footage captured by Sky’s cameras showed FIA officials inspecting the area of concern on both Red Bull RB20 cars.
Autosport has learned that the governing body is conducting similar checks up and down the pitlane at Austin on Friday.
This is part of a data-gathering exercise to ensure the similar parts that are present on all F1 cars do not need to be sealed, as is happening on Red Bull’s car before the part can be modified to assure the FIA it will not be used between qualifying and the race.
The team is expected to make this permanent fix ahead of the Brazilian GP at the end of the current triple-header.
FIA delegates are checking the Red Bull Racing RB20 of Max Verstappen
Photo by: Andreas Beil
All F1 teams have systems in place to allow ride heights to be altered around the front bib part, but the suggestion that Red Bull’s device could have been used to alter set-up settings between qualifying and the race is why the matter has become so controversial.
Red Bull strongly denies that it ever used the adjuster in such a way, and the FIA previously stated that it is satisfied there is no evidence of such a regulation breach by any team.
The FIA’s head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis reiterated to Sky Sports on Friday that he was satisfied the matter had been dealt with sufficiently.
“We didn’t have any clear indication that somebody was doing such a thing,” he said. “So we said that from this race onwards there must be no possibility to do such a thing at all.
“If a team has a design that would allow quick change of that height, then it will have to be seen, so they cannot have access in parc ferme.
“I think all teams have adhered to that. And as far as we are concerned, that’s reasonably under control.”
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