Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, has thrown his full support behind the FIA’s decision to clear Red Bull of any wrongdoing regarding their controversial ride-height adjustment device, which has sparked intense scrutiny ahead of the 2024 United States Grand Prix.
The issue arose when Red Bull admitted to having a mechanism that adjusts the ride height of their RB20’s T-tray. This device could potentially breach the technical regulations if used during the restrictive parc fermé conditions. Red Bull, however, maintained that the device is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled, making it compliant with FIA rules.
In response to the situation, the FIA inspected the device during practice sessions in Austin, placing a seal on it for further investigation. While McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed concern that Red Bull may have exploited the device for a performance advantage, Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur chose to trust the FIA’s judgment.
“We have to trust the FIA on this one. I don’t want to make any comment on rumors, and I don’t know what has happened because I am not in the team, so I don’t know if they’ve used it or not,” Vasseur said. “We’ve had tons of gray areas from the beginning of the season, but if this is the case, it wouldn’t be a gray area at all. But we have to trust the FIA.”
The FIA has since stated that it found no evidence of Red Bull violating the rules with the device. While it has created a stir among rival teams, particularly McLaren, the stewards confirmed that unless the device is tampered with during parc fermé conditions, it remains legal. The ongoing accusations, they suggest, may be more a result of heightened tension between teams in the fiercely competitive environment.
Meanwhile, Ferrari had a solid showing in Austin’s Sprint race, with Max Verstappen securing pole position and Carlos Sainz finishing second after an impressive final-lap overtake. Charles Leclerc followed closely in fourth, despite losing third to his teammate early in the race. Vasseur expressed his satisfaction with Ferrari’s performance but noted his desire for even better results, acknowledging that a 1-2 or 2-3 finish would have been ideal.
“I was hoping for a better result, but we have the pace to make up for it,” Vasseur commented optimistically.
Heading into Sunday’s race, Sainz and Leclerc are set to start from third and fourth on the grid, giving Ferrari a strong chance at securing another podium finish. As the season enters its final stages, Ferrari fans are hopeful that Sainz, in particular, can deliver a stellar performance in his remaining races with the team.
