What Christian Horner said off-air about Red Bull’s controversial front bib at US Grand Prix

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Red Bull have struggled by their lofty standards throughout much of the 2024 Formula 1 season, and have lost the lead in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Austrian team are no longer the quickest car at most events and were beaten comfortably by McLaren and Lando Norris last time out in Singapore.

Red Bull are now under pressure in both championships and are 41 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings with six rounds to go.

The reigning champions are shrouded in controversy heading into the United States Grand Prix as there is attention on the RB20.

Ahead of the weekend, the front bib on the car has been the subject of controversy as Red Bull admitted a device to change the front ride height exists.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explained off-air that it would be obvious when the team were accessing the device, which was later said on Sky Sports F1.

Christian Horner explained ‘you have to take the pedals out’ to access the front bib device

Red Bull have been lacking ultimate performance over the past few months as McLaren have set the pace in recent times.

The controversy over the front bib has been heightened amidst the championship battle between Mclaren and Red Bull.

Red Bull explained that the device can’t be accessed while the car is fully assembled and it was found through design details that were published around open-source parts.

Simon Lazenby explained ahead of FP1 on Sky Sports F1 that Horner said off-air that the pedals would need to be removed from the RB20 for the device to be accessed.

Lazenby said: “I spoke to Christian before we came on here. He said that actually to access this device, you have to take the pedals out. It’d be fairly obvious if they were doing that in Parc Ferme. Then you counter that with ‘why the need for a seal if it isn’t accessible from the cockpit?'”

Zak Brown is not convinced by what Red Bull said around the front bib

The ride height is a very difficult aspect of the car to manage as lowering the car can generate more downforce and more lap time.

It will be very difficult to prove Red Bull have used the device despite the Austrian team saying it exists on the RB20.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is unlikely to let Red Bull go quiet on the front bib and let the controversy be forgotten.

McLaren are also under pressure to gain points on Red Bull, and their rivals having a slight distraction may help them in the title fight.