McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, is demanding further action against Red Bull. The Austrian team came under scrutiny in the lead-up to the GP in Austin. An alleged feature on the RB20 was suspected to be in violation of the regulations. However, it turned out to be a storm in a teacup; Red Bull modified the car and faced no further penalties. Nevertheless, Brown hopes that there will still be ‘consequences’.
Red Bull is believed to have a feature on the car that allows the ride height of the so-called bib to be adjusted between qualifications and races. This refers to the front part of the floor. Strict parc fermé rules apply between these sessions – the use of such a feature would therefore be strictly prohibited. The FIA ruled that the part had to be modified, but Red Bull received no further punishment.
Zak Brown is not letting it go. The CEO of McLaren, Red Bull’s biggest rival in the constructors’ championship, is calling on the FIA to investigate the use of this alleged feature more closely. Christian Horner defended himself by suggesting that Brown is suffering from ‘paranoia’, but the American continues to involve himself in the discussion around Red Bull.
The Call for a ‘Sworn Statement’
“I would like to see the Red Bull team management, the former chief mechanics, and the current mechanics sign a sworn statement stating that they have never used that controversial part,” Brown told the Daily Mail. “After all, it is suggested in the paddock that they have done so. The only way to rule this out is by making an old-fashioned statement.”
Brown also demands a penalty if it turns out that rules have indeed been violated. “There must be a deterrent,” he stated. “In the past, teams and drivers were disqualified from races and championships. I’m not saying that Max Verstappen should be disqualified, but if the parc fermé rules have been violated, there must be a severe penalty. Whether it happened once or has been going on for three years, there must be consequences.”
