“God knows how long they’ve been doing that and they’ve been winning titles. Maybe that’s over now, although I don’t think it’s the only thing stopping them.” The doubts spread by Lewis Hamilton in Austin reveal the current moment of Formula 1, shaken by suspicions surrounding Red Bull, who the FIA has forced to remove a part from its car. This is the latest chapter in a recurring debate: has the Christian Horner in the gray areas of the regulations or has it simply widened the margins to the point of breaking the rules?
After winning seven of the first 10 races of the World Championship, Max Verstappen links eight great prizes without victory. Throughout these four months, the three-time champion has spoken of his RB20 in terms such as “undriveable” or “monster”, although his lowest point was to come on September 1, with a sixth place in Monza, 38 seconds behind the victor. Since then, Red Bull has been looking for solutions to stop the bleeding against McLaren, which has won five of the last eight races. The US GP had been marked in red by the Austrian team, which announced major updates to “reverse” the situation after the three weeks of rest. However, that package of improvements has been reduced to a couple of changes to the engine cover and the floor edge, both in search of greater stability.
These touches no longer seem to matter much, obscured by the happy front keel, the prohibited element that directs all the aerodynamics of the ground. Red Bull must eliminate it from its plans, although as reported yesterday Motorsportwill not be able to do so until the Brazilian GP, since it is located in an area that is difficult to access for its mechanics. That peculiarity, precisely, seems to give reasons to its rivals.
“What does not stand.”
“It cannot be denied that they have the ability to access that piece from the cockpitthat is indisputable,” he said. Zak BrownMcLaren boss, speaking to Sky F1. When asked if he believed Red Bull had used said device, he responded by leaving another question: “Why did they design it to be carried inside the car? We have designed the rest to have it outside.”
The FIA explained on Thursday that it had no evidence that Red Bull had ever changed the height of that keel in the racing regime. closed park (closed park). But faced with the mere possibility that this would happen, therefore contravening the rule, he simply chose to prohibit it. This Solomonic measure does not convince McLaren at all, which a month ago agreed to change its rear wing after complaints from its rivals. Of course, that element of the MCL38 seemed too flexible at Baku’s dizzying top speeds. As true as that the trick devised by Red Bull could lead to an even more blatant advantage.
“What doesn’t hold up is their argument that they can’t modify the car. So why does the FIA feel they need to put a stamp on it if it’s not accessible after or during parc ferme?” added Brown, “very pleased.” , despite everything, due to the ongoing FIA investigation. To respond to the Woking team, Red Bull put into the fray on Friday Helmut Marko. “Our system is perfectly legal and was known by everyone. We had already informed the FIA about it. That says it all,” argued the plenipotentiary advisor to the energy team.
Misgivings in the paddock
Of course, any change in the height of the car between Saturday and Sunday seems decisive. Especially in a World Championship where Mercedes and Ferrari also questioned, during some races, the dominance of McLaren and Red Bull. Sufficient as an example are the very tight differences in the qualifying sessions and the pole of the Canadian GP, resolved in favor of George Russellwith a time identical to Verstappen’s.
Since the beginning of the year, with that murky matter surrounding Horner and one of his employees, Red Bull’s every move has been watched with suspicion in the paddock. Comments are pouring in about a team that in 2022 already had to pay an astronomical fine for exceeding the budget limit and that last August renounced its asymmetric braking system, prohibited by the FIA. Not to mention the usual indulgence of the stewards with Verstappen, who was able to avoid numerous sanctions on the asphalt, but who will maintain his monosyllable policy after being punished for his foul language.
Oblivious to any contingency, the three-time world champion yesterday fastened the pole for the sprint race (1:32.833), with 12 thousandths of an advantage over George Russell and 22 hundredths versus Charles Leclerc. A first setback for Lando Norriswho today will start fourth, just ahead of Carlos Sainz. It was even worse on Friday Fernando Alonsofourteenth and Oscar Piastrisixteenth with the other McLaren.