WOLFF ON RED BULL’S FRONT BIB DEVICE: “I DIDN’T KNOW WE WERE USING BUGS BUNNY DEVICES IN F1”

An explanation came from Toto Wolff regarding Red Bull’s front bib adjustment device.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described Red Bull’s front bib adjustment device as “strange” and suggested that the FIA might conduct further investigations into the matter. Red Bull was at the center of technical discussions throughout the United States Grand Prix weekend, primarily because the FIA had begun to monitor the system used by the Milton Keynes-based team to adjust its front bib height more closely.

While the existence of a device that can be adjusted with a tool is permitted, changing this adjustment under parc ferme conditions is against the rules. Consequently, the FIA placed a seal on the device during the Austin weekend to ensure that these adjustments were not altered between qualifying sessions and the race. Additionally, Red Bull promised to make more permanent changes to its car in the later stages of the season.

Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, stated that there was no evidence of Red Bull using this device in the past, suggesting that the matter was closed. However, this may not be the end of the issue. Wolff, who has previously fought hard against Red Bull, believes the situation is far from acceptable and implied that he could pressure high-ranking officials, including FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, regarding this matter.

Discussing Red Bull’s system, Wolff stated, “In my view, based on what I’ve seen and heard, this is very strange.” He elaborated on why he felt this way, questioning the necessity of Red Bull fitting such a complex device to assist with ride height adjustments only during practice sessions.

Wolff added, “I think we all design components that are compliant with F1 standards, and these are parts that have the highest specifications and are within the rules. Sometimes you try to push as far as you can on issues like aero flexibility, but there are certain components where you have to question why they exist.”

“Why would you design something like that and put two markers for two positions as if you want to change something?” he concluded.

Wolff also implied that Red Bull staged a kind of theater by showing the FIA a tool used to change the device, suggesting that these adjustments could be made in a much simpler way. “When they put this device on the car, I really liked how they showed that this was the only way to change it! I wonder how much time they spent doing that and fitting it to the car.”

One rival team nicknamed the 60 cm-long socket that Red Bull showed to the FIA as “Bugs Bunny,” as it looked cartoonish given the sophisticated standards typically expected in F1. Wolff supported this idea, adding, “I didn’t know we were using such Bugs Bunny devices in F1. In this case, just saying, ‘Okay, we won’t do it again’ isn’t enough.”

While Tombazis believed that the matter was settled during the United States Grand Prix weekend, Wolff doesn’t see it as the end of everything. He remarked, “I can’t speak on behalf of the FIA. I can’t speak on behalf of Nikolas either. Clearly, this is something that has gone unnoticed for a long time. But I think the FIA management will look at this and say, ‘What are we going to do about it?’”