Allegations have surfaced against Red Bull Racing for allegedly utilizing a device designed to adjust car ride height under parc ferme conditions ahead of the United States Grand Prix. The mechanism in question, referred to as the ‘bib’ or ‘tea-tray,’ has led to debates among fans of the sport, with some calling it “cheating”, while others name it “innovation”. A surprising defender of Red Bull amidst these allegations is none other than Lewis Hamilton, the legendary seven-time world champion from Mercedes.
Formula 1 is a sport where pushing the boundaries of what the rulebook allows is key, and should be celebrated.
“I think the name of our sport is all about innovation,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1, via Crash.net. “Red Bull have been the leaders and they’ve innovated.
“Ultimately all the teams look at the rules and try to find how to massage those rules and get the most out of it, even if it’s just over the edge a little bit.”
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 17, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Lewis Hamilton defends Red Bull Racing against cheating claims.
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Red Bull Racing confirmed making changes to their setup following consultations with the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body.
Adding to the discourse is Max Verstappen, currently in the lead for the Driver’s Championship. The Dutchman has downplayed the impact of the alleged device on their performance:
“For us, it was just an easy tool. When the parts were off, it was easy to adjust. But once the whole car is built together, you can’t touch it.
“So, for us it doesn’t change [anything].”
He continued:
“When I read it, I was thinking about other teams doing it. And then I found out it was related to our team,” Verstappen added.
However, the opinions within the paddock are not unanimous. Lando Norris of the McLaren F1 Team voiced criticism of Red Bull’s regulatory interpretation. Norris, who is fighting for a championship this year for the first time in his career, contends there is a distinct boundary between permissible innovation and outright violations of the regulations.
“There’s a difference between black and white stuff like this, and there’s a difference between pushing the boundaries and creating new things and innovating within the space that you’re allowed to innovate,” Norris explained.
Historical parallels can be drawn, such as the issues surrounding the dual-axis steering system by Mercedes and Ferrari’s contentious power units in prior seasons.
As Hamilton thoughtfully stated, the call for sustained innovation within boundaries is crucial.
“But I think everyone else, we’ve got to continue to be innovators and leading rather than trying to catch up.”
