Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have both firmly denied that Red Bull's adjustable front bib ride height device has provided any competitive advantage to the team's RB20 car.
A controversy surrounding the device emerged in Austin after Red Bull confirmed that the FIA had raised concerns about the system, particularly regarding whether it could be adjusted under parc fermé conditions, which would represent a clear breach of F1's technical regulations.
The issue came to light after the Singapore Grand Prix, where the FIA was alerted to the existence of a mechanism in the Red Bull car that could adjust its front ride height, which could potentially offer an aerodynamic advantage.
A senior team representative of Red Bull acknowledged the part's existence but insisted that it could not be accessed once the car was fully assembled and ready to run, thus preventing any clandestine changes, particularly in parc fermé.
“Yes, it exists although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run,” the representative said, adding that discussions with the FIA had led to an agreed way forward.
Ahead of this weekend's US Grand Prix, Sergio Perez was the first to address the media about his team's situation.
“There has been nothing that we were doing. We never actually talked about it. It was impossible,” he said.
“If anything, for example, I remember here that last year it was a sprint event, so we ended up with the ride height [close to] the moon.
“It was completely out of it because we were concerned about something like what happened to Mercedes [and Ferrari, being disqualified for excessive underfloor plank wear] that could happen to us.”
©RedBull
Perez also confirmed that while he was aware of the device, it was not something the drivers could use.
“I knew it existed but it was not available to us [to be used],” he stated, emphasizing that it had no role in their performance during races.
Max Verstappen echoed his teammate's comments, offering further clarity on the matter. When the issue first came to his attention, Verstappen admitted he initially thought it involved another team.
“It's open source, right?” he said of the device whose design has to be submitted to the FIA for all to see.
“Everyone can see it. For us it was just an easy tool when the parts were off. It was to adjust, but once the whole car is built together you cannot touch it. So for us it doesn't change.
“When I read it [the story], I was thinking about other teams doing it and then I found out it was related to our team, and we never even mentioned it in the briefing.”
The controversy follows the recent debate over McLaren's rear wing 'mini-DRS' concept which the Woking-based outfit was forced to change.
Both situations involving the two championship contenders highlight the ever-present scrutiny in Formula 1's highly regulated environment, where even the smallest innovations are closely examined.
However, reflecting on the issue, Perez pointed out that the responsibility ultimately lies with the FIA to determine whether any system is legal or not.
“I think it is down to the FIA to draw a line whether it is legal or illegal,” he explained. “They are the ones who control the sport, so at the end of the day it is up to them to decide.”
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