Red Bull have introduced changes to the RB20 following discussions with the FIA in the wake of last month’s Singapore Grand Prix
The FIA announced earlier this week that a change of procedure would be introduced ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. This came following reports that a team within the paddock had been exploiting a trick to adjust the ride height of a car during parc fermé.
Under parc fermé conditions, which come into play from the beginning of qualifying on Saturday, any change to car set up other than front wing angle is prohibited. The FIA stated earlier this week that any rumoured changes to front bib clearance under parc fermé, albeit not confirmed, would be strictly prohibited.
“Any adjustment to the front bib clearance during parc ferme conditions is strictly prohibited by the regulations.” The FIA statement read. “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.”
Following this earlier announcement, Red Bull have today announced they have made changes to the RB20 ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix. The team confirmed the existence of a device which would allow adjustment to the front bib, but denied any exploitation or breach of parc fermé rules had occurred.
“Yes, [the device] exists,” A spokesperson for the team told BBC sport. “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.”
Such an exploit, if implemented, would benefit the team in allowing them to alter the ride height of the front bib, the centre section of floor to the front of the car, between qualifying and the race. A lower setting would benefit the team during qualifying with a higher setting paying dividends during a Grand Prix.
It is understood that rival teams reported the existence of the device to the FIA during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, having identified it in open-source component documents which the teams are required to provide to the FIA.
Weighing in on the situation, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who currently trails championship leader Verstappen by 52 points, stated that while any gains granted through use of the aforementioned exploit would be minimal, they may make a difference in results given the closeness of the field this season.
“It’s one thing having it on your car and another how much you exploit and use it, which we have no idea on.” Norris stated. “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.”
