Red Bull has been absolved of any wrongdoing after the FIA conducted a comprehensive investigation into suspicions that the team was unlawfully utilizing a device to modify the ride height of its cars between qualifying and the Grand Prix.
Red Bull found itself in the headlines ahead of the United States Grand Prix after revealing a mechanism that modifies the front-bib clearance of its RB20s.
The system, also known as the T-tray, sits in the front and center of a car’s floor. Teams prefer a lower riding height for qualification and somewhat higher for a Grand Prix.
Under parc fermé rules, it is forbidden to change a car’s ride height between a qualifying session and a race.
The gadget was discovered following the Singapore race, most likely through open-source component papers provided to the FIA by teams regarding the design of their cars.
This tipped off Red Bull’s competitors, prompting discussions with the FIA, which led to the motorsports governing body choosing to “implement procedural adjustments to ensure that the front-bib clearance cannot be easily modified.” In rare circumstances, a seal may be used to provide further assurance of conformity.
This was done with immediate effect for the Austin Race.
Since then, and following the conclusion of the current triple-header, which also featured Mexico and Brazil, FIA officials have visited the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes and thoroughly inspected the cars.
According to an FIA statement, “The FIA regularly reviews and inspects the F1 teams’ compliance with the technical, sporting, and financial regulations, which may include spot-checks at the circuit or inspections and investigations at the teams’ factories.”
“Similarly, it is the responsibility of the F1 teams to bring to the FIA’s attention any concerns about their competitors’ compliance with the regulations, and this phenomenon is clearly exacerbated in championships where there may be closer competition for the ultimate prize, as was the case in 2024.
“The FIA takes any such anomalies very seriously and will investigate them in addition to the normal checks it does during race weekends and beyond.
As part of this examination, FIA technical representatives went to Red Bull Racing’s headquarters to look into recent complaints about their front floor design and use.
“This investigation concluded that no breach has taken place, and therefore confirmed the position adopted by the FIA during the US Grand Prix in Austin.”
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