Red Bull forced to change brakes

09/06/2012

Mat Coch writes:

For the second time in just over a week an FIA technical clarification has impacted Red Bull.

Last week the sport's governing body changed its opinion over the reigning constructors' champions' floor design. After lobbying from rival teams in Monaco it decided that holes in the floor were indeed against the technical regulations, forcing the team to run a revised floor this weekend.

Similarly it's now been ruled that the team's brake ducts do not comply with the technical regulations.

It is believed the FIA, upon inspection of the Red Bulls ahead of any on-track action in Canada commencing, ruled that the brake ducts gave the team an aerodynamic advantage because of holes. By directing air through the holes it's believed the team can gain advantages with airflow over the front wing, and therefore contravenes Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations.

The regulation states that all aerodynamic components must be fitted to the sprung part of the car, effectively meaning the chassis or body. The brake ducts are fitted to the wheels, or an unsprung part of the car.

To remedy the situation Red Bull was forced to block the holes, though with Sebastian Vettel claiming pole it seems the changes to the RB8 have not greatly impacted its performance.