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Stella says McLaren must accept FIA verdict on Red Bull bib tool

McLaren delivers its response to FIA saying Red Bull bib adjuster affair is now closed

Jonathan Noble
Jonathan Noble
Edited:
Mechanics push Max Verstappen, 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

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella says he is happy to accept the FIA’s judgement that Red Bull did not break Formula 1's rules over its front bib adjuster.

The presence of a device below the Red Bull cockpit that allowed a quick change of ride height fuelled suspicions that it could have been used by the team to adjust its front bib during parc ferme conditions - which would be a breach of the rules.

Although the FIA responded to concerns from Red Bull’s competitors about the potential exploitation of this device by fitting seals to it from this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, the governing body insisted there was no evidence it had been used against the regulations.

And on Saturday at Austin, the FIA’s head of single seater matters Nikolaz Tombazis rejected a call from McLaren to investigate previous use of the device, by insisting that as far as he was concerned the matter was now finished.

“Can I say with complete certainty about whether there's ever been anything irregular No,” he said. “Can I say that the matter is closed? Yes, absolutely.”

Red Bull RB20

Red Bull RB20

Photo by: Andreas Beil

While McLaren would undoubtedly like the FIA to probe a bit deeper into whether or not Red Bull ever used the device illegally, Stella thinks that it simply has to accept the verdict and now move on.

Asked by Motorsport.com if the matter was now closed to McLaren, Stella said: “This matter at this stage of its development can be faced in different ways. You can close the matter, or you can keep pursuing the matter.

“But my point of view specifically is that when these kind of topics are in the hands of the FIA, the technical department, they are capable people with more information than we have as teams, and more tools to acquire more information than we have. They have the expertise.

“For me, I just trust what they do. And if the FIA think that the matter is closed, I take it at face value, I accept it, the matter is closed, and I move on.”

Stella said that he had some sympathy for the difficulties that the FIA faced in policing incredibly complex matters, and said it will perhaps never be known if Red Bull ever used the front bib tool.

“We as competitors, we should try and be more respectful of the FIA, because it's not easy,” he added.

“It's one of those roles that I wouldn't exchange, because they are trying to stop competitors from trying to maximise the performance.

“Sometimes this performance is white, sometimes it's grey, sometimes it's black. In this case, if there was a practice of adjusting the front floor in parc ferme, in that case, that's simple, it's black.

“But interestingly, it doesn't leave any trace. So, you don't know if this happened or not.”

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