McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes that the FIA must investigate ‘to the bottom’ whether Red Bull has worked on the RB20 during parc fermé rules or not. Prior to the Grand Prix weekend in Austin, it was revealed that the Red Bull car has a feature that allows the ride height to be adjusted from the cockpit under parc fermé rules. The team denies that they have actually done this.
On Thursday, the Formula 1 world was shocked by the news about the ‘illegal’ feature on the RB20. The Austrian team can adjust the ride height of their car between qualifications and races with this so-called bib. Red Bull quickly stated that they have never used the feature under parc fermé rules, but McLaren CEO Zak Brown is skeptical.
“Why would you design it so that it’s in the car, while the other nine teams design it so that it’s outside the car,” Brown wonders during the FIA press conference on Friday. “The rules are clear. You are not allowed to touch your car (during parc fermé). They (Red Bull) have chosen their words very carefully by saying that the car is fully assembled. But you are not allowed to have the car fully assembled in parc fermé and when you are working on driver comfort.”
Thorough Investigation
Brown is therefore ‘very pleased’ that the FIA is now involved in the case. “I think it needs to be a very thorough investigation. If you touch your car from a performance perspective after or during parc fermé, it is undoubtedly a substantial violation, which has major consequences,” says the McLaren boss. “Touching your car after parc fermé is highly illegal within the rules, so I think the FIA needs to investigate this to the bottom.” The FIA started the investigation immediately after the first free practice in Austin. Representatives of the governing body were already spotted in the Red Bull garage for explanation.
