Lando Norris has expressed his satisfaction with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for implementing additional checks on the ride heights of F1 cars. The British McLaren driver’s comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding the legality of the RB20, the car of title rival Max Verstappen. Red Bull will have to modify the car in the near future.
In recent weeks, several teams have complained to the FIA that Red Bull could adjust the ride height of the so-called bib from the cockpit. This refers to the front part of the floor that protrudes slightly under the car. As this function could potentially be used between qualifications and races, it is technically illegal. For this reason, the team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez has been reprimanded by the FIA.
“It’s one thing to have such a thing on your car, but how much you’ve actually used it is another thing. We have no idea about that,” Norris said on Thursday during the FIA press conference in the run-up to the American Grand Prix next Sunday. “If it has helped Red Bull and they now have to adjust it, it could perhaps be an advantage for us. But they certainly haven’t won multiple pole positions or victories because of this system, so I don’t think it’s going to change much.”
‘Perhaps a Little Helped’
Nevertheless, the McLaren driver is pleased with the FIA’s strict enforcement. After all, Red Bull could indeed have benefited from it at certain times.
Lando Norris: “If you look at certain qualifications or races, where the difference was only a few hundredths or thousandths of a second, it may have helped a little. I think it’s good that the FIA is carrying out these intensified checks. There is a difference between black and white. Formula 1 is about pushing boundaries, creating new things, and innovating within the space you have. Within those rules, McLaren has done a good job, but we won’t go any further.”
