Brown Pinpoints What's Suspicious About Red Bull Front Bib Adjustment Controversy
F1
McLaren Racing's CEO Zak Brown pointed out suspicious aspects of how Red Bull and FIA handled the controversy around the device for front bib adjustment.
It surfaced on Thursday ahead of the 2024 United States Grand Prix that multiple F1 teams were concerned and in talks with FIA about Red Bull's device located inside the car that serves for front bib adjustment.
What this device essentially allows is the adjustment of the ride height (which can lead to improved performance). The F1 teams suspected that Red Bull might have played with this device between qualifying and the race while their car was in Parc Ferme - which is strictly forbidden.
Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, defended his team, saying all the other nine F1 teams on the grid have essentially the same kind of system in their cars.
However, McLaren's CEO Zak Brown pointed out a difference between Red Bull's device and the ones that other F1 teams are using. He told Sky Sports:
"Why would you design it to be inside the car when, with the nine other teams, it's designed to be outside the car?"
"Ingenuity is part of Formula 1, and then there are black-and-white rules. You cannot touch your race car, other than for things like driver comfort."
Red Bull's spokesperson also stated this device cannot be used once the car is fully assembled, but Zak Brown also pointed out that this might be just a clever choice of words from the Austrian team. He continued:
"They chose their words very carefully, saying 'when the car is fully assembled,' but you're allowed to not have the car fully assembled in parc ferme when you're working on driver comfort.
"Also, what doesn't quite stack up is the comment that you can't modify it. Well, then, why does the FIA feel they need to put a seal on it? If it's not accessible post or during parc ferme, then why put a seal on it?"
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both also expressed concerns during the media day on Thursday, suggesting this could be a clear breach of regulations, unlike McLaren's flexi wings. Brown added:
"So, 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 after parc ferme or in parc ferme, that is a black and white, material, substantial breach, which comes with massive consequences."
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