Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur shares how former Red Bull employees can help FIA investigation

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The FIA are under pressure from Red Bull’s Formula 1 rivals to thoroughly investigate a ride-height-altering device on the RB20. It’s the latest technical controversy to break out in the paddock.

McLaren faced heavy scrutiny last month over the rear wing they used to win the Azerbaijan GP. Footage appeared to show the flaps bending upwards at high-speed to create a ‘mini-DRS’ effect.

Flexible bodywork is outlawed under the regulations, so this prompted complaints from their fellow frontrunners, most notably Red Bull. McLaren agreed to modify the wing, which won’t be used again until Las Vegas.

There’s no evidence that Red Bull have done anything illegal. But McLaren and Ferrari are not yet fully satisfied.

They want to be 100% certain that Christian Horner’s team haven’t changed the ride height of their car under parc ferme conditions. Red Bull would have to disassemble their car to do this, but Zak Brown says that could be done under the guise of ensuring driver comfort.

Red Bull demonstrated the procedure to the FIA in their garage after FP1 at the US Grand Prix. One mechanic came to block the cameras when they realised the investigation was being filmed.

Former Red Bull staff can help the FIA ‘better understand’ ride height device, Fred Vasseur says

Speaking to Sky Italy on Friday, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur offered his take on the controversy dubbed ‘bibgate’ (because Red Bull can raise their front bib). They are direct competitors in the constructors’ championship.

Indeed, Ferrari are closer to Red Bull (34 points) than Red Bull are to McLaren (41). F1 teams routinely examine FIA documents concerning rival cars to ensure their compliance with the regulations.

Intriguingly, Vasseur raised the possibility that former Red Bull employees could help the FIA address any concerns in this instance. Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay are among the big names to announce their departures recently, but they won’t join their new teams until next year at the earliest.

However, the reigning champions have had this mechanism on their car for multiple seasons. It won’t just be staff currently under contract who have knowledge of the situation.

“The FIA ​​can talk to those who are in the team and those who have left the team to better understand the situation,” Vasseur said.

Nikolas Tombazis shares whether the FIA can use CCTV to examine Red Bull

Why would Red Bull want to change the ride height of their car between qualifying and the race? The answer lies in aerodynamics.

Theoretically, they could run their lower to the ground on a Saturday when it’s light on fuel, improving downforce, and then raise it for the race when a full tank would otherwise have it scraping along the ground. Effectively, this would remove the need to compromise.

Again, it’s worth stressing that scrutineers have found no evidence of wrongdoing. It would be a severe offence given that, in terms of set-up, teams are only allowed to change front-wing angle from the start of qualifying.

Nikolas Tombazis says the FIA can’t use CCTV to provide clarity. That’s because the millimetre-level changes would be imperceptible from a distance.