FIA addresses Red Bull’s front bib trick device controversy, shares latest verdict

FIA’s Single Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis has said that Red Bull’s bib design was not a big issue. The Austrian team’s device could help it adjust the ride height of its car during race weekends.

Adjusting the ride height would help the car generate more downforce. However, the reigning world champion said it had the device at the front of the car, but did not use it once assembled.

Ahead of the ongoing 2024 United States GP weekend, it was reported that Red Bull would work with the sport’s governing body regarding the issue. Speaking with Sky Sports, Tombazis said:

“At the previous race [Singapore GP], it was pointed out to us that certain designs could allow a change of the height of the front of the car, which some people call a bib, in parc fermé, and we didn’t have any indication or any proof that anybody was doing something like that.

That would clearly be illegal under parc fermé regulations. But I would say we didn’t have any clear indication that somebody was doing such a thing.”
Tombazis said FIA was not worried about the issue.

“I think it’s certainly not a story from now on. I think we’ve done all that’s needed to stop there being any accusations. Of course, it is a tight championship and people get excited about each other’s cars.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner discussed rivals such as McLaren questioned the legality of the device, telling Sky Sports:

“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. It’s on a list of open-source components, so it’s been publicly available for the last three years. The FIA are happy with it, I think, just to satisfy perhaps some paranoia elsewhere in the paddock.”

The reigning world champion brought a major upgrade package to the Circuit of the Americas to reclaim the Constructors’ Championship lead it recently lost to McLaren.

Red Bull currently trails the Woking-based outfit by 41 points but with Max Verstappen’s pole at the Sprint Shootout on Friday, it would look to wipe out some of the margin this weekend. Before losing the lead, the Milton Keynes outfit was at the top of the standings from Spain 2022 to Baku 2024.