FIA closes loophole in ride height adjustments at US GP

The FIA moving to implement enhanced controls over front bib clearance amid suspicions of potential parc ferme regulation breaches.

Investigation sparks new controls

The sport's governing body has launched a preemptive strike against what multiple teams believe could be a sophisticated system allowing ride height adjustments between qualifying and race conditions.

The concerns center around the possibility that at least one team may have engineered a method to modify their car's front bib clearance - commonly known as the T-tray - during parc ferme conditions.

Such modifications would offer significant competitive advantages, allowing teams to optimize their cars for both qualifying's low-fuel runs and race conditions with full fuel loads.

However, these adjustments would directly contravene Formula 1's technical regulations, which strictly prohibit aerodynamic modifications under parc ferme conditions, save for front wing adjustments.

The matter hinges on Article 40.2 of F1's Technical Regulations, which explicitly limits permissible parc ferme changes to front wing aerodynamic setup adjustments using existing components.

Article 40.9 further reinforces these restrictions, categorically stating that competitors cannot modify any part on the car during this period.

Discovery through open-source data

The revelation emerged through Formula 1's open-source component system, where teams must upload design details to FIA servers.

This transparency led to discussions between several teams and the governing body over recent weeks, as competitors identified potential mechanisms that could enable cockpit-controlled bib clearance adjustments.

FIA's response and enhanced scrutiny

While the FIA maintains it has received no definitive evidence of such systems being employed, it has opted for a proactive approach at the Circuit of the Americas. An FIA spokesperson revealed:

"Any adjustment to the front bib clearance during parc ferme conditions is strictly prohibited by the regulations. While we have not received any indication of any team employing such a system, the FIA remains vigilant in our ongoing efforts to enhance the policing of the sport."

The new verification procedures may include the application of seals to components that could potentially alter T-tray angles, ensuring compliance with technical regulations throughout race weekends.

With six races remaining in a tightly contested championship battle, this technical controversy adds another layer of complexity to an already intense season finale.