'A breach of the regulations': F1 rivals weigh in on 'outrageous' Red Bull cheating
Updated . First published at
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has added his name to the list of those sceptical of Red Bull's mystery ride height device.
In the lead-up to Monday's United States Grand Prix, it was revealed that the Milton Keynes-based squad has fitted a curious part to its car capable of changing the front ride height.
While no evidence exists, it has been alleged that the team has used the tool to make illegal adjustments to its front ride height between qualifying and the race — when the teams are not permitted to modify their cars.
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Sergio Perez drives the Red Bull Racing RB20 on track at the US Grand Prix. Chris Graythen via Getty Images
Red Bull boss Christian Horner and FIA head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis have both emphatically denied that this occurred at a previous grand prix.
The mechanism was also demonstrated to the FIA before sprint qualifying in Austin to leave no room for doubt.
However, this has done little to allay the concerns of the paddock.
McLaren team boss Zak Brown has been especially outspoken on the 'bib' device — questioning its purpose and inconspicuous location within the footwell of the car.
In Red Bull's statement refuting accusations they carried out unauthorised work, the team said the part "is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run".
However, Brown underlined that under parc ferme conditions — when no work is permitted to be done on a car — the cars can still be disassembled.
McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown (left) and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Clive Rose via Getty Images
Speaking after the US GP, Wolff labelled the potential cheating as "outrageous".
"My view is, from the distance of what I've seen and what I've heard, it's outrageous," he said.
"I think we're all designing parts that are Formula 1 standard, that are to the highest specifications. We design parts that are within the regulations.
"Sometimes on things like aeroelasticity, you would probably try to go as far as you can, but there're certain parts where you would question why they exist."
Brown has also called on members of the team to give an affidavit declaring that the device has never operated while under parc ferme conditions.
"I'd like to see the senior leadership, the former chief mechanics and the current mechanics sign an affidavit stating that they have never used or have no knowledge of it being used," Brown told the Daily Mail.
"The suggestion in the pit lane from a handful of people is that it has been used in that manner, so the only way to bottom it out is the old-fashioned 'sign here', stating what has gone on.
"I am confident the matter is dealt with going forward. But if they have done it in the past, there is no grey area about it. Modifying your car in parc ferme is as clear a breach of the regulations as possible."
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates his sprint victiry at parc ferme. Getty
According to Red Bull, the part has been in its current location for the last three years.
However, it was only discovered externally after a review of the team's open-source components, which was made available to rivals on an FIA server.
In the same statement, Red Bull said a new process to seal the device when under parc ferme conditions is set to be introduced.
"We have agreed to a plan going forward," it read.
