Red Bull change car after discussions with FIA

Red Bull have confirmed that they have made changes to their car as a result of discussions with governing body the FIA.

Rivals had alerted the FIA to a device in the Red Bull cockpit that they believed could be used to adjust the height of the front of the car’s floor.

The concern of rival teams was that this could be used to make changes to the car’s set-up between qualifying and races, when they are not allowed.

A Red Bull spokesperson told 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.”

F1 teams are forbidden from making changes to their car’s set-up, apart from to the front wing angle, from the start of qualifying, under what are known as parc ferme regulations.

The part in question that could be adjusted was the so-called ‘bib’ or ‘tea-tray’, which is the front of the floor in the middle of the car.

An FIA statement said: “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.”

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who is challenging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship, said: “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 close to the situation say the FIA was informed of the device on the Red Bull over the course of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend last month.

Rivals had seen its existence in what are known as open-source component documents that teams have to provide to the FIA about the design of their cars.

The ability to adjust the floor of the car would enable teams to better balance the demands of qualifying and racing.

A team would prefer the car to run lower in qualifying and higher in the race.

The F1 season resumes this weekend after a four-week break with the United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.