Motorsport McLaren warns of ‘huge consequences’ if Red Bull breaks the rules

McLaren CEO Zak Brown warned on Friday of “huge consequences” if champion Red Bull were found to have broken Formula 1 rules regarding adjusting car settings during closed ‘parc-ferme’ conditions.

Red Bull, who follow McLaren in the manufacturers’ standings, have confirmed the presence of a ride height system in their cars but insist it will no longer be accessible once fully fitted.

The team has agreed to make changes after consultation with the governing FIA, with the device likely to be fitted with seals.

Brown said there were still questions to be answered at the US Grand Prix.

He suggested that Red Bull’s statement had been carefully worded, with cars not always being “fully assembled” in parc-ferme conditions and especially when ride comfort issues needed to be addressed.

“I’m not the only one concerned about what we’ve seen and heard.”

“What’s not quite right is the comment that you can’t adjust it,” he told Sky Sports. “If it’s not accessible after or during parc ferme, why put a seal on it?

“I think it needs to be a very thorough investigation because from a performance point of view, if you touch your car after the parc ferme or in the parc ferme, that is a black and white material, substantial breach that has enormous consequences.”

Brown said it is up to the FIA ​​to “come up with a solution that is transparent and satisfactory to all teams.

“I don’t think I’m the only one concerned about what we’ve seen and heard.”

Rivals have raised concerns that such a device would allow the car’s ride height to be adjusted between qualifying and the race, which would be illegal but provide a performance advantage.

Brown said Red Bull appears to be the only F1 team “that has the ability to adjust ride height from the cockpit”, although he accepted drivers would not be physically able to do so.