RBR would welcome suspension ruling
Red Bull Racing would welcome a clarification from the FIA about the use of suspension in Formula 1, following allegations that it is running a mechanical form of 'active ride' this year
Rival outfits suspect that Red Bull Racing is doing something clever with its suspension - perhaps through the use of gas-filled dampers - that helps give the team a lower ride-height in qualifying for an extra boost of speed.
One theory is that the gas pressure helps push the car down for its optimum ride-height with low fuel for qualifying, before releasing the pressure prior to the race so the car lifts back up - allowing its starting weight of fuel to be added without the car bottoming out.
Red Bull Racing has denied that anything it is doing with its car is out of the ordinary, and team principal Christian Horner has said he would welcome any move to clear the matter up - especially following allegations from McLaren that the Milton Keynes-based team could even be breaching the regulations.
"McLaren has made a lot of comments recently, be it about our fuel tank size or the future of our drivers and now supposed systems on the car," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"Categorically we don't have anything like that on the car. It is down to them to speculate, but a clarification would be good for everybody."
Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn said last weekend that he thought it best it was cleared up exactly what changes could be made to suspension after qualifying.
"I think we do need to tidy it up, in fairness to Red Bull because there are accusations being thrown around. It is very unfair," he said.
"They have a very good car, and there is no evidence they are unnecessarily doing anything untoward. You can do things with tyre pressures between qualifying and the race which is a simple way of helping the situation but it is necessary for the FIA to just clarify where we stand.
"Our understanding - I can't remember the article exactly, but you are not allowed to make any suspension changes between qualifying and the race. Anything that influences the suspension, be it gas pressure, be it the intentional manipulation of temperature, would have that affect. I think we need Charlie to clarify that to get rid of the controversy."
Horner believes the fact that rival teams were sniping at them was actually a positive - because it showed how serious a threat his outfit now was.
"Ultimately we tend to ignore comments from other quarters, but it demonstrates we are doing something right that they have a need to," he said.
Brembo denies Vettel's brake failure
Lotus aims to be in top five by 2013
Foyt changes IndyCar number amid "symbolic references" debacle
AJ Foyt Racing has changed the number of Benjamin Pedersen's 2023 IndyCar entry from #88 to #55, after finding its two cars' numbers held "certain ideological and symbolic references".
Taylor: Reset button will be "worn out" but better than limp mode in Daytona 24
Ricky Taylor has zero worries over the pace of the new Acura ARX-06, but believes the new GTP cars will encounter several sensor issues over the course of the Daytona 24 Hours.
WEC assessing Sebring alternative for US round from 2024
The World Endurance Championship has admitted that it is examining alternatives to Sebring for the US round of the series from 2024.
Wehrlein hails "perfect" Porsche strategy, efficiency en route to Diriyah FE win
Pascal Wehrlein reckoned that Porsche's Diriyah E-Prix strategy and efficiency worked "perfectly" en route to claiming his second Formula E victory.
Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
OPINION: Fred Vasseur has spent only a few weeks as team principal for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but is already intent on taking the Scuderia back to the very top. And despite it being arguably the most demanding job in motorsport, the Frenchman is relishing the challenge
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
One easy way the FIA could instantly improve F1
OPINION: During what is traditionally a very quiet time of year in the Formula 1 news cycle, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been generating headlines. He’s been commenting on massive topics in a championship that loves them, but also addressing necessary smaller changes too. Here we suggest a further refinement that would be a big boon to fans
How can McLaren keep hold of Norris?
Lando Norris is no longer the young cheeky-chappy at McLaren; he’s now the established ace. And F1's big guns will come calling if the team can’t give him a competitive car. Here's what the team needs to do to retain its prize asset
What difference did F1's fastest pitstops of 2022 make?
While a quick pitstop can make all the difference to the outcome of a Formula 1 race, most team managers say consistency is more important than pure speed. MATT KEW analyses the fastest pitstops from last season to see which ones – if any – made a genuine impact
When F1 ‘holiday’ races kept drivers busy through the winter
Modern Formula 1 fans have grown accustomed to a lull in racing during winter in the northern hemisphere. But, as MAURICE HAMILTON explains, there was a time when teams headed south of the equator rather than bunkering down in the factory. And why not? There was fun to be had, money to be made and reputations to forge…
What Porsche social media frenzy says about F1’s manufacturer allure
Porsche whipped up a frenzy thanks to a cryptic social media post last week and, although it turned out to be a false alarm, it also highlighted why manufacturers remain such an important element in terms of the attraction that they bring to F1. It is little wonder that several other manufacturers are bidding for a slice of the action
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.