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Red Bull bib adjuster case is now closed, FIA says

The FIA has ruled out any further investigation over the controversy surrounding Red Bull’s front bib adjuster

Jonathan Noble
Jonathan Noble
Edited:
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Tiffany Cromwell and Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer, Scuderia Ferrari with Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andy Cowell, Group CEO, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 chassis detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 steering wheel of Sergio Perez

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 nose detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The grid with a view of Turn 1 ahead of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, gets out of the car on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren pit stop wheel gun

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Shaboozey and Gordon Ramsey pose in front of the car of Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, the rest of the field away

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Race start, as drivers race into the first corner

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the remainder of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 battles with Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, congratulate each other in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Sting with the Sprint top 3: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Marshals clear away the car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, is moved away on a flatbed truck

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 wooden plank detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, watches down the pit lane

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas F1 Team pitstop wheel guns

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mondo Duplantis and his fiancée Desiré Inglander

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pato O'Ward, Reserve Driver, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, parks his car in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, and Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team for Sky Sports F1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, chats with Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, receives his Pirelli Pole Position Award from Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Top three qualifiers Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
99

The FIA says the matter surrounding Red Bull’s front bib adjuster is now closed in its opinion, as it rules out a wider investigation.

Motor racing’s governing body has acted for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in adding seals to the Red Bull car to ensure that an adjustment device in the RB20 cockpit that can raise or lower the front bib cannot be used outside the regulations.

That came following suspicions from rival teams that Red Bull could have been altering its ride height under parc ferme conditions – which would be illegal.

However, having conducted a thorough examination of the Red Bull system over the Austin weekend, the FIA says it is satisfied that the measures it has in place mean there can be no rule breach.

And while the governing body admits that it is impossible to be sure that Red Bull never used the device illegally in the past, it does not think it practical to dig any deeper into the matter.

The FIA’s head of single-seater matters Nikolas Tombazis said: “I mean, honestly, can I say with complete certainty about whether there's ever been anything irregular? No. Can I say that the matter is closed? Yes, absolutely.”

Nikolas Tombazis, Head of Single Seater Technical Matters, FIA

Nikolas Tombazis, Head of Single Seater Technical Matters, FIA

Photo by: Mark Sutton

While McLaren has called on the FIA to investigate further whether Red Bull did use the device in the past, Tombazis said that there was no realistic way to find answers as to what happened historically. And the federation sees no reason to launch any further action simply based on suspicion from competitors.

“To go and retroactively actually prove exactly what has happened before is difficult, and we don't think we have the ability to go and investigate two years’ worth of situation,” he said.

“Generally, when we decide to escalate the matter, and to go to the stewards or tribunal or whatever, we want to have some reasonable indication - so not based on hearsay or just speculation.

“As the design is not illegal, we believe that the correct action is to say: ‘Well, okay, certain things need to happen in order to guarantee there's no ongoing sort of concern.’ But we also have to also draw a line in time and say that there are certain things we can't go into much more detail [with].”

Tombazis said it was not realistic to think that analysis of garage CCTV images that the FIA captures from each weekend would yield any evidence of the team altering the device.

“People are allowed to check things on the car, and it's a matter of how easy that is,” he said.

“If you have to dismount the whole bodywork and do 50 things, then obviously it would be visible in the camera. But on something as simple and as quick as that, I don't think you can realistically check that on cameras or virtual images or so on.”

Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, talk in the garage as mechanics work on the car of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, talk in the garage as mechanics work on the car of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

While some senior paddock figures have suggested that the FIA should formally speak to Red Bull staff, or seek potential whistleblowers, to be totally sure it was never used in the past, Tombazis does not see that as a route worth pursuing.

 “We need to always consider that we're dealing with humans,” he said. “We're dealing with humans changing conditions: with loyalties - old loyalties, and new loyalties. So, one has to be a bit careful about how you escalate that.

“We also don't want to be fitting lie detectors on people and doing interrogations under bright lights, or something like that. That is not what we want to do here.

“I've obviously worked in the past in teams, quite a lot, and I've employed people from other teams. I think there's sometimes a tendency to say, well, where I came from, we were doing XYZ.

“And sometimes one has to really interpret these comments very, very carefully. You cannot just base an escalation on a few comments like that.”

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