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McLaren wants FIA to investigate Red Bull further over front bib adjuster

The FIA has been asked to dig deeper to be sure that Red Bull did not break F1’s parc ferme rules

Jonathan Noble
Jonathan Noble
Edited:
Red Bull RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Gunter Steiner

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mika Hakkinen

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Otmar Szafnauer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Danica Patrick

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Jock Clear, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Reserve Driver, Ferrari and Haas F1 Team, James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alex Albon, Williams Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, with Romain Grosjean

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
A Ferrari fan in the paddock

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull RB20 rear suspension detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Haas VF-24 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Franco Colapinto, Williams, Gaetan Jego, Williams Racing Race Engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
The flag of the United States of America

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team on stage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Former NASCAR star Jeff Gordon poses with an Aston Martin Pirelli Hot Laps car

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Raoul Spanger, Manager of Nico Hulkenberg

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Leo Neugebauer in the Haas F1 Team garage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, with Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mercedes F1 W15 rear suspension detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Haas VF-24 rear wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Franco Colapinto, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Jeff Gordon

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mechanics push Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alpine mechanic pitlane practice

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, receives his Sprint Qualifyiing Award from Leo Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
98

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has called on the FIA to launch a “thorough investigation” into whether Red Bull did actually use its front bib adjuster under parc ferme conditions.

Red Bull has found itself at the centre of intrigue over a device it has fitted under the heel support in its cockpit, which allows a mechanic with a tool to lift or lower the height of the front bib.

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While the system itself is not illegal, rival teams are unhappy because they suspect that Red Bull may have used this system in the past to adjust its car between qualifying and the race.

Such a move would be illegal as parc ferme restrictions do not allow the alteration of any aerodynamic components apart from the front wing.

Red Bull strongly denies that it ever used the adjuster in such a way, and the FIA itself has said it is satisfied there is no evidence of such a regulation breach by any team.

However, that is not enough for Brown, who suggests that there are still many unanswered questions over the whole matter – and has called on the FIA to look deeper into what Red Bull may have done.

Speaking about the FIA increasing its policing over the front bib matter for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Brown told Sky: “I'm very happy to see the FIA is on it.

“I think it needs to be a very thorough investigation. Because if you touch your car from a performance standpoint in parc ferme, that is a black and white material, substantial breach - which should come with massive consequences.

“Touching your car after parc ferme is highly illegal within the rules. So I think the FIA needs to get to the bottom of: were they, weren't they?”

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Brown suggested that the very fact Red Bull was the only team on the grid that had fitted such a system within the car was enough to prompt doubt about why it chose its concept like that.

He also played short shrift to comments from Red Bull that claimed the adjustment could not be made when the car was fully assembled.

“When you see cleverly worded comments like you can't do it when it's fully assembled…I know the car isn't always fully assembled," added Brown. "And then the FIA feels they need to put a seal on it. Why would the FIA need to put a seal on something if it wasn't accessible?

“Transparency is critically important in today's day and age. So I still have questions. I know from talking to other team bosses, they still have questions. So until those questions are answered, I think it is still an ongoing investigation to bottom out, you know: what do we know?

“I'd like some more answers before I'm prepared to kind of go: 'Right, I guess they were or they weren't.' But I think the FIA will bottom it out.”

Read Also:

Asked if he felt Red Bull had broken the rules, Brown said: “Why would you design it to be inside the car, when the nine other teams haven't?

“It'd be unfair of me to say, of course. I have an opinion on whether I think they have or haven't, but I think the FIA needs to be very diligent in their bottoming out whether they think they [Red Bull] have or haven't.”

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