Lando Norris says the controversial ride height device that led to Red Bull making changes to their car could have helped Max Verstappen claim a crucial advantage in their championship fight.
Red Bull confirmed on Thursday that they had agreed a plan with the FIA to make a change to the RB20 ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix following talks with the sport’s governing body.
Rival teams doubted that Red Bull’s device could allow them to profitably alter the car’s ride height via the front of the floor’s “bib” when in restricted parc ferme conditions, which would violate the sport’s rules.
In confirming the device’s existence, Red Bull insisted it couldn’t be used for anything untoward as it wasn’t available when the car was fully assembled.
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All the best moments from the Max Verstappen-Lando Norris title battle so far in 2024, with six race weekends to go.
Before Red Bull’s comments, the FIA had previously said it had received “no indication that any team was using such a system”, but that using such a device was against the rules.
“It’s one thing to have it on your car, it’s another thing how much you operate it and use it, which we have no idea about,” said Norris, who trails Verstappen by 52 points and leads the drivers by six. rating. The rounds of the 2024 season remain.
“If it’s helped them, if they’ve used it the way people think they’ve done it, maybe it’ll swing in our direction.
“But when you’re talking about things like that, they’re not going to have multiple pole positions or wins because of that device.
“I don’t think it’s going to change anything in the scheme of things, maybe in some election sessions when it’s been split by hundredths or thousandths, you might say, well, maybe this helped one way or the other. “”
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Lando Norris says McLaren have more confidence coming into the US GP compared to how they did in Singapore.
The controversy follows McLaren being asked by the FIA to change their car’s ‘mini-DRS’ rear wing device after last month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The following week, Norris continued to dominate in Singapore.
Norris added. “I think it is good that the FIA is doing something like this.
“There’s a difference between black and white stuff like this, and then there’s a difference between F1 and pushing boundaries and creating new things, innovating in a space that’s allowed to innovate.
“That’s what we’ve done a good job of as McLaren, but we’re confident we haven’t gone any further than that.”
Verstappen. The device does not affect performance
Both Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez insisted the device did not provide any advantage as it was unavailable for use when the car was fully assembled, echoing the team’s claims in their earlier statement.
In a statement released earlier Thursday, a Red Bull representative said: “Yes, (it) exists, although it is not available when the car is fully assembled and ready to go.
“During many correspondences with the FIA, this part came to light and we have agreed a plan going forward.”
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Max Verstappen says he is not concerned that Red Bull have been forced to change their car due to the altitude device ban at this weekend’s United States GP.
The FIA previously said it would make “procedural adjustments to ensure the front bib clearance cannot be easily altered” at this weekend’s Sprint event in Austin.
Details of Red Bull’s design feature were available to other teams on FIA servers in accordance with regulations surrounding open source parts.
When asked what was the team’s response to the situation, Verstappen answered:
“For us, it was just an easy tool with the parts off that was easy to set up. But when the whole machine is built together, you can’t touch it. So it doesn’t change for us…
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Lewis Hamilton believes the rules need to be better enforced after Red Bull confirmed they have a controversial ride height adjustment device on their car.
“When I read it, I was like, are there other teams doing this? And then I found out that it was related to our team, we never mentioned it in the briefings, so it’s just an easier tool to set things up.
When asked if the device had any effect on performance, Verstappen replied: “No.”
Peres added: “We’re not doing anything about it. We never really talked about it. It was impossible.
“I knew there was, but it wasn’t available to us.”
Norris is confident as Verstappen hopes the upgrade has an impact
The controversy has only added to the intensity surrounding the resumption of the title fight, with nearly a month’s lull for tensions to build since Norris’ stunning win in Singapore last time out.
Ominously for Red Bull and the rest of the field, Norris says his expectations for McLaren are higher than at the Marina Bay Circuit.
“Probably more (confident),” said the British. “If you look at where we were last year here compared to Singapore with the car we had, I think this was a better weekend for us.
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Jenson Button tells us which car he would like to drive at the start and end of the 2024 season between McLaren and Red Bull.
“We led the first half of the race. It was a good weekend. Some things have changed with the new surfaces on this track, so there are always questions to be answered.
“The way we performed last year in the last three, four, five races, we’re confident we can get to the top.”
Verstappen hopes Red Bull can mount a bigger challenge to McLaren than in Singapore, where Norris won by more than 20 seconds, but admits he does not expect the RB20 upgrades to “totally change” the final lap order.
The Dutchman said: “If you look at the pace difference in Singapore, definitely not (the upgrades are not enough to catch McLaren).
“But every path is different. We know that Singapore is not our strongest track anyway. But I don’t expect all of a sudden it’s going to be completely different and we’re going to be the dominant car.
“We’ve already had our limitations with this car all year, now we’re trying to make it better. But I don’t expect it to go away completely.”
United States GP schedule live on Sky Sports F1
Friday October 18
18:00. United States GP practice first (session starts at 18:30*)
20.30. Press conference of team directors
22:00. United States GP Sprint Qualifying (Qualifying Start: 22:30*)
Saturday October 19
18:00. United States GP Sprint Rally
19:00. United States GP Sprint
20.30: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
22:00. United States GP Qualifying*
23:00. United States GP Qualification*
(Sunday) at 1:00. Ted’s qualifying notebook
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Take a look back at the most dramatic moments from the United States Grand Prix.
Sunday October 20
18.30. Grand Prix Sunday. United States GP Rally*
20:00. United States Grand Prix*
22:00. Checkered flag. United States GP response
23:00 Teddy’s notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event (Sunday race meeting from 7.15pm)
With just six races remaining in Formula 1 2024, the season resumes this Friday at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sprint weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership. no contract, cancel anytime
