Ride height adjustment trick: FIA suspects a team is moving the T-Tray in Parc Fermé!
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The International Federation has confirmed that targeted inspections will take place during the United States Grand Prix weekend in response to growing suspicions about a system that may allow a car to modify its height while in parc fermé.
Motorsport.com has learned from multiple sources that after the Singapore Grand Prix, discussions took place between some teams and representatives of the FIA’s technical department. The subject concerns a team (currently unidentified) that may have found a way to adjust the height of the car in the T-Tray area between qualifying and the race.
The ability to change this parameter after the conclusion of qualifying would offer a significant advantage, considering the different demands required for performance in a single fast lap versus the duration of a Grand Prix. However, this would be a clear violation of the Formula 1 technical regulations, which expressly forbid any modifications to the aerodynamic configuration of the car (except for the front wing) once the vehicle enters parc fermé.
Article 40.2 reiterates: “The aerodynamic configuration of the front wing can be adjusted using existing parts. No part can be added, removed, or replaced.” Article 40.9 adds: “A competitor cannot modify any part of the car. It must be clear that modifications cannot be made without the use of tools.”
However, according to the suspicions that have surfaced in recent weeks, a team may have designed its car in a way that makes it possible to adjust the height in the T-Tray area by manipulating a component inside the cockpit. This modification could be easily carried out by a mechanic during the normal inspection work done on the cars between qualifying and the race, without being detected by external observers monitoring the work in the garage.
As often happens in such cases, it is the rival teams of the one under scrutiny that report their suspicions to the FIA. One or more teams may have spotted this possibility through design details that all teams must upload to the FIA's servers as open-source components, data that all competitors have access to.
After evaluating the situation, the FIA considered the concerns of the teams and decided to implement targeted measures starting from the Austin weekend. The FIA has reiterated, however, that there is no definitive proof of the system hypothesized by some teams.
A spokesperson for the International Federation told Motorsport.com: “Although we currently have no indication of the use of such a system, the FIA will be monitoring to improve the sport’s oversight. We have implemented procedural changes to ensure that the subject of these discussions cannot be easily modified. In some cases, this may involve the application of a seal to provide further assurance of compliance.”
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