Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has criticised the FIA’s clampdown on the team’s front bib adjuster, claiming it is driven by rival teams’ paranoia rather than any genuine rule breach.
The controversy erupted during the 2024 United States Grand Prix after the FIA implemented new measures to prevent teams from potentially adjusting the ride height of the front bib in parc fermé, a move aimed at addressing suspicions regarding Red Bull’s setup.
Rival teams voiced concerns that Red Bull might have been altering the front bib clearance between qualifying and the race, which would violate F1 regulations.
In response, the FIA added seals to Red Bull’s adjuster, ensuring it couldn’t be modified without detection. However, Horner insists these actions are unnecessary and that his team has not broken any rules.
“I think there’s been a bit of moaning from one of our rivals, and it’s the FIA’s job to look into these things,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 in Austin.
“It [the adjuster] is on a list of the open-source components. So, it’s been publicly available for the last three years. The FIA are happy with it. I think it’s just to satisfy perhaps some paranoia elsewhere in the paddock.”
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Horner Refutes Ease of Adjusting Red BullCar
Horner clarified that Red Bull’s front bib adjuster is not easily accessible and requires extensive work to reach, making it highly unlikely that any adjustments could be made quickly during parc fermé conditions.
The team boss explained that accessing the adjuster requires removing body panels and pedals, a task that would be far from practical during the restricted period.
“If you think that there’s some kind of handbrake or lever that the drivers can activate with a low, medium or high setting, I’m really sorry to disappoint you. There isn’t,” Horner said, emphasising the complexity involved.
“Every car has a tool that they can adjust the front of the bib with. Ours is located at the front, in front of the footwell, and it’s been there for, I think, over three years.
“But you’ve got to have the pedals out, and other panels and pipework out, in order to be able to get to it. So, it’s like any other adjustment on the car.”
He added that simpler and quicker adjustments, like those made to the rear roll bar, would make more sense if the team were looking to gain an advantage. This further undermines the logic behind the accusations directed at Red Bull.
“It would be easier to adjust the rear roll bar than it is to get to that component,” Horner continued. “It’s all part of the packaging and in the front end of the chassis.”
The timing of the controversy also raised Horner’s suspicions, as it comes shortly after McLaren faced scrutiny over their ‘mini DRS’ system.
Horner hinted that this could be a deliberate attempt to shift attention away from rivals’ own issues, stating: “It’s sometimes to distract from perhaps what’s going on in your own house that you try and light a fire somewhere else.”
Despite the heightened attention, Horner remains confident that Red Bull has adhered to all regulations, and the FIA’s recent actions will not impact the team’s performance or strategy going forward.
