Not only Zak Brown, but also Toto Wolff is calling for more thorough checks by the FIA on the RB20’s T-tray area, which has come under scrutiny by teams right before the United States Grand Prix weekend at the 5.513-kilometre Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
According to the accusations made by McLaren, the Milton Keynes team has allegedly devised a system capable of adjusting the height of the tray while under parc fermé conditions. If such a solution had indeed been implemented, it would have given Red Bull a double advantage, as it would have allowed them to run the car as close to the ground as possible during qualifying, then raise it for the race to avoid excessive wear on the plank.
However, lacking concrete evidence, the FIA could do nothing more than acknowledge the matter and seal off the T-tray area to monitor the situation for upcoming races.
Toto Wolff, while commenting on the solution allegedly patented by his rivals, didn’t hold back: “From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s scandalous. I believe we all design parts that are standard for Formula 1 and that meet the highest specifications in compliance with the regulations. Sometimes, with things like aerodynamic flexibility, you probably try to push the limits as far as possible, but there are other things in general and some parts where you wonder why they even exist.” – the Mercedes team principal pointed out.
“Why design something like that and put two marks on it for two positions, as if you’re intending to change things? Is this the precise decision-making process we have in F1? I really enjoy it when they stick this ‘broom’ in the car to show that it’s the only way to change it! I wonder how long it took them to invent it and put it in there.”
Finally, the Austrian added: “I didn’t know that Bugs Bunny-style devices were used in Formula 1. It’s not enough to just say, ‘That’s how it is, and we promise not to do it again.'”
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