Jul 12
28
Red Bull have denied breaking rules in the wake of the latest in a series of controversies to engulf the team.
It has emerged that at June’s Canadian GP, governing body the FIA asked Red Bull to modify its front suspension.
Continue reading the main story
“The suspension has never been changed once it’s in parc ferme. Never”
Christian Horner
Red Bull team principal
The FIA found it could be changed by hand when rules say it must be done with tools. Changes are banned between qualifying and race.
Boss Christian Horner said: “We never changed the ride height in parc ferme. It is a non-issue.”
Asked why the suspension could be changed by hand when the rules state specifically that must not be possible, Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, said: “There are a lot of parts that are changed manually on the car, but a tool was used. The suspension has never been changed once it’s in parc ferme. Never.
“Honestly, it’s completely trivial.
“Basically what was on the car in Canada has been on [the car] at a lot of other races as well, and at no point has it been adjusted in parc ferme.
“It is a question of whether you do it with a tool or manually, and it is done with a tool.”
Article 34.5 of the Sporting Regulations states: “In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the suspension systems or aerodynamic configuration of the car (with the exception of the front wing) whilst in post qualifying parc ferme, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without the use of tools.”
If a team could find a way to change the suspension settings between qualifying and race without being discovered, it would give them a significant advantage.
“I haven’t seen the device Red Bull are said to have had that could have allowed them to manually adjust the ride-height, but what is being talked about is a very unusual thing.
“The front suspension is very complicated, with rockers, torsion bars, upright adjusters, side dampers, anti-roll bar and a third spring that stops the car touching the ground.
“Because of that, to adjust the ride-height teams usually just adjust the push-rod, as it allows you to
Articles are gathered and rebroadcast from public feeds: source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19032217
