During the Grand Prix weekend in Austin, there was much controversy surrounding a feature on the Red Bull cars that allowed the team to adjust the ride height of the RB20 under parc fermé rules. The FIA found no evidence that the Austrian racing stable actually did this. However, the governing body explains what does and does not fall under the parc fermé rules.
“Essentially, the parc fermé rules prevent teams from making changes to their cars between qualifying and the race,” explains technical delegate Manuel Leal in the official FIA press release. “The rules are designed to ensure a level playing field for all teams by limiting their ability to make changes. There are also cost reasons, so that teams cannot create custom cars for qualifying.”
Understanding the Parc Fermé Rules in Formula 1
The rules for parc fermé are outlined in Article 40 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations. These rules define parc fermé as the period from when the “car first leaves the pit lane during the qualifying session until the start of the race.” During this time, teams are still allowed to work on the car, but only if the work falls under general maintenance or is for safety reasons. The replacement of certain fluids and adjustments for the comfort of the drivers are also permitted.
Any other modifications to the car are only allowed with the permission of the FIA. The governing body monitors compliance with the rules through technical personnel and cameras.
Violation of Parc Fermé Rules
So, what happens if a team decides to violate the parc fermé rules and start from the pit lane? “They have three hours after the qualification to submit requests,” explains Leal. “If they decide that their setup is not effective, they want to change the car’s specifications, or they have another reason to start from the pit lane, they will report it.”
“Technical delegate Jo Bauer creates a report with the parts that have been replaced, in case of a malfunction or damage. Then, he creates another report of parc fermé issues, describing what the team has done,” Leal continues. “All of this is made available to everyone, ensuring complete transparency.”
