The revelation that the FIA has moved to clamp down on a potential ride height parc ferme trick has added an intriguing twist to the Formula 1 title battle.

But while the governing body’s response to suspicions that one competitor may have been altering front bib clearance between qualifying and the race should stamp out the practice from now, the issue is unlikely to go away immediately.

The big question being asked by some squads in private is whether or not the damage has already been done, and someone has got away with doing something that they believe was clearly outside the regulations.

It is important to state firstly that, at the moment, there is no proof that any team has broken the rules. 
And, somewhat unsurprisingly, no squad has put its hand up and admitted that it has been up to something that it should not have.

The FIA has also been explicit that it has not “received any indication of any team employing such a system”, and one unidentified squad that has been at the focus of the allegations has ruled out it having such a device.

But feelings on the matter could become heightened if, from this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, there is a noticeable step change in the pecking order and one or more teams suddenly fall away.

In a rules era where ride height is absolutely critical to car performance, and teams have long had to battle the compromises between setting a car up for qualifying and the race, the ability to alter the front bib between Saturday and Sunday would be quite a powerful tool to help that.

The potential gains

If someone has been lifting the bib for qualifying and then dropping it for the race, losing that advantage with immediate effect should expose a step-change in performance.

Potentially altering the front bib clearance would help account for the shift in car weight between qualifying and the race, as there is a significant difference in ride height and ride quality between an empty fuel tank for qualifying and it being full for the race.

Having the front bib clearance at the perfect height for both scenarios would give an immediate advantage in terms of being able to take more kerb in qualifying, as there would be no fear of damaging the floor and plank.

It would also ensure that the aero platform was as optimised as possible, which would then have tangible benefits of helping ensure the tyres are in the right operating window.

Cars under covers in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Advertisement

There could be help too in all of this allowing a team to run much closer to the optimum minimum tyre pressures, without having to sacrifice ride quality through suspension settings.

If you cannot change the bib height, as the regulations state, then teams have to find the best compromise between their ride heights and angles for qualifying and the race – going as low as they dare for both low and high fuel without risking going too far and damaging the plank.

The prospect of a review

Should this weekend deliver a scenario where a team appears to have taken a step back, then that will likely ramp up feelings from its rivals that perhaps the FIA should dig a bit deeper into what has happened up until this moment.

However, while there would likely be calls for some retrospective action to be taken if it can be confirmed that someone had been breaking the rules like this, the difficulty may be in ever having enough proof to take the matter further.

It is understood that all teams have ways to adjust the front bib clearance height on their cars, as it is a standard set-up tool. So the existence of a device in a car’s cockpit to change those settings is not relevant to pushing the matter over the line.

The key however is in understanding whether or not a team has altered the settings under parc ferme conditions between qualifying and the race, which is outside the rules.

That is why the FIA is introducing some procedural changes, which could include the use of seals on the devices used by teams to change the bib clearance, to ensure that these settings remain fixed from now on.

A modern-day Option 13 scenario?

Johnny Herbert, Benetton B194 Ford

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Advertisement

The issue of the matter being about whether a team secretly changed settings means it will be virtually impossible for the FIA to go back and find out whether or not anyone played some tricks at previous races.

One F1 source has suggested that this is a similar scenario to what happened with Benetton in 1994 over suspicions it was running a form of illegal launch control.

Analysis of its source code by the FIA revealed that its car software had a hidden menu where, if Option 13 was selected, launch control would be activated.

However, despite the governing body looking deep into the matter, no evidence could be found that it had ever been used in a race, so action over it was not possible.

Amid the current tech controversy, a team having a device in its cockpit that would allow it to change bib clearance is not a smoking gun that it broke the rules.

For a breach to happen, there would have to be unquestionable evidence that the settings were altered between qualifying and the race, something that would be nigh on impossible to go back and prove.

As of now, the FIA says it ‘remains vigilant’ on the matter in ensuring teams comply with the regulations, but there could be some increased pressure to review things a bit more if this weekend’s race in Austin throws up some surprises at the front.

CAMPBELL HATTON returns to the ring in Manchester next weekend as he faces Jimmy Joe Flint in a big rematch.

Son of British boxing hero Ricky Hatton, Campbell went 14 fights undefeated as a young pro before running into Flint.

2

2

Advertisement

Their first fight was a close one but the judges ultimately scored it to Flint.

And now Campbell wants revenge as he seeks to continue his efforts in landing a first title in boxing.

The Southern Area super-lightweight title was up for grabs in their first fight but it won’t be this time around.

A win for Campbell, would position him perfectly for a shot at it in the future.

When is Campbell Hatton vs Jimmy Joe Flint?

• Hatton’s big rematch with Flint will take place on Saturday, October 26.
• Hatton vs Flint is likely to take place in the middle of the card, most likely around 8pm BST.
• The main event between Catterall and Prograis will get underway from around 10.30pm BST.
• The fight will be held at the new Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester and it can host approximately 23,500 spectators.

What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

• Campbell vs Flint will be broadcast LIVE on DAZN.
• DAZN can be streamed in both the UK and US.
• You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month on a 12-month deal
• A flexible pass, worth £19.99-a-month, is also available, and you can cancel anytime.
• Alternatively, fans can live stream the action from the DAZN app which you can download onto your mobile or tablet device.

Full card

• Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis
• Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr
• Pat McCormack vs William Andreas Herrera
• Campbell Hatton vs James Flint
• Joe McGrail vs Lewis Morris
• William Crolla vs Lorenzo Grasso
• Stephen Clarke vs TBA
• Emily Whitworth vs TBA

Cody Garbrandt has a big decision to make.

The former UFC bantamweight champion is set to complete his current contract with the promotion on Nov. 9, when he fights Miles Johns at a UFC APEX show in Las Vegas on Nov. 9. When fight night rolls around, that’s 16 octagon appearances for Garbrandt, once one of the UFC’s most popular fighters.

Garbrandt discussed his contract status on a recent episode of the JAXXON podcast.

“Still going through some things with the UFC,” Garbrandt said. “It’s my last fight on the contract, so we’ll get together with them and see what we can come up with.”

After beginning his pro MMA career with five straight wins, Garbrandt went 5-0 in the UFC with four knockout wins to earn a shot at bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in December 2016. Garbrandt put on a virtuoso performance to claim the title at 25 years old, but then lost back-to-back fights by knockout to rival T.J. Dillashaw.

Since winning the title, Garbrandt has won just three of his past nine fights and appears to be well past his prime. He would still garner plenty of attention in free agency given his past accolades and he’ll likely consider other offers even if his preference is to stay put.

“I’d love to [re-sign],” Garbrandt said. “I love the UFC, especially the way the sport’s going. I love mixed martial arts. Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in there, but you know, money talks.”

Should the Johns fight go poorly, there’s also the chance that Garbrandt decides to call it a day, though he hasn’t discussed retirement as a possibility. When asked what he plans to do when he’s done competing, Garbrandt mentioned he’d like to stay involved in combat sports, though he’ll pass on the responsibility of coaching.

“I haven’t put too much thought into it—well, a little bit of thought into it,” Garbrandt said. “I try to not stay focused on one thing, but I’ve been in the sport for so long. Wrestling my whole life, boxed, did MMA, it would be in that realm. Maybe a gym.

“I don’t know if I could be a coach and deal with a lot of the fighters because a lot of the fighters are pretty crazy. Maybe I have a gym, maybe get in some management.”

Tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones of UFC and Bellator veteran Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos, dead at 38.

Doubt. Matt Brown weighs in on Francis Ngannou’s star power and what that means for this Saturday’s milestone PFL event.

More beef? Ilia Topuria has yet another rivalry cooking as he is now trading shots with Conor McGregor.

Rankings. Dana White vows to fix the UFC rankings.

Deplorable. Mike Perry used some disgusting language during his recent arrest.

Duck? Ian Machado Garry claims Colby Covington hasn’t accepted a fight offer.

G’day Mate. The UFC returns to Sydney in February.

PFL stars tackle media day.

Francis returns.

The baddest of BMFs.

No Bets Barred. Jed Meshew brings you your best bets for PFL: Battle of the Giants and UFC Vegas 99.

Geeking Out. Matt Serra and guest Frankie Edgar go deep on the film oeuvre of the great Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Tribute.

Ah yes, perhaps “Poatan” can finally get some of that elusive KO power.

Amanda Ribas catching a body.

Atomweights been here.

Happy birthday!

Not the worst idea.

Fight Circus.

Talisson Teixeira (7-0) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (9-5-1, 1 NC); UFC 310, Dec. 7

Nikolas Motta (14-5, 1 NC) vs. Maheshate (10-3); UFC Macau, Nov. 23

Jake Hadley (11-3) vs. Cameron Smotherman (11-4); UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19

It’s been almost eight years since Cody Garbrandt won the UFC bantamweight title and, somehow, it feels longer than that? It’s safe to say we’ve never quite seen a career decline as steep as Garbrandt’s and it’s unclear how much he has left in the tank. Perhaps he can be reborn in bare-knuckle boxing? Just spitballing.

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.

Anthony Yarde says he wants to fight Joshua Buatsi or Artur Beterbiev in the near future as he prepares to make his return to the ring on Saturday.

The light-heavyweight has spent nine months on the sidelines, due to a “contractual dispute” with his long-time promoters Queensberry.

Yarde, 33, makes his return against Ralfs Vilcans on the undercard of Adam Azim v Ohara Davies, an event promoted by Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.

Speaking at a news conference Yarde dismissed criticism about his opponent, who is unheralded and has fought most of his pro career in his home country of Latvia.

“I want to be in the ring. Everyone is going to have their opinion on the level I should be fighting, or the fight, or how big the fight should be,” Yarde said.

“I want the biggest fights out there. That’s Joshua Buatsi, that’s Beterbiev 2, that’s [Dmitry] Bivol.”

Yarde has a loss on his record to the newly crowned undisputed champion Beterbiev in 2023.

Beterbiev stopped Yarde in a defence of his world title before going on to beat Bivol in their undisputed contest last Saturday.

Yarde failed in his first world title attempt in 2019, but expects another opportunity and said “three’s the charm”.

Queensberry’s Frank Warren has not commented on Yarde’s fight with Boxxer, but Shalom said the Englishman has not signed a long-term promotional deal.

“We don’t have many genuine superstars that can capture the attention as mainstream stars and Anthony Yarde is one of them,” Shalom said.

“There’s Josh Buatsi, there’s Ben Whittaker, there’s Anthony Yarde all in the domestic light-heavyweight scene [in the UK].

“You can expect a showman. There’s not many fighters, if any, in the division that can fight the way Anthony Yarde can fight. He is a super talent.”

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper says he believes in Britain’s culture and coaching pathway following Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as England head coach.

German Tuchel, 51, was confirmed as the next Three Lions boss on Wednesday and will become only the third non-British manager of the England men’s team when he starts in the role on 1 January.

English candidates were among “approximately 10” people interviewed for the job, says the Football Association, but former England defender Gary Neville called the decision “damaging” for homegrown coaches.

“Hopefully over the course of time British coaching will continue to improve and we will be right up there with the world’s best,” said Welshman Cooper, who led England to victory at the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.

“In the meantime any opportunity we are given we have to take them and do a good job. Until we do that on a regular basis maybe we shouldn’t say so much.

“I really believe in British culture, I believe in the coaching education pathway as well.”

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said on Wednesday England are “not in that place” to have several homegrown managers in contention for the national team job but insisted the national coaching system is a success.

“I think any federation in the world that is looking to hire a senior manager, clearly you would love to have five to 10 domestic candidates who are coaching clubs in your domestic league, challenging and winning honours in your domestic league and European football,” said Bullingham.

“We are not quite in that place at the moment.”

JACK CATTERALL and Regis Prograis will finally do battle in a super-lightweight showdown after their first initial date got postponed.

El Gato was forced to pull out of his August 24 encounter against Prograis after suffering an injury during his training camp.

1

And it was a huge blow for the English star as he was looking to build on his incredible win over long-term rival Josh Taylor three months before.

However, the huge fight has now been salvaged and it will see Catterall become the first boxer to headline the new Co-Op Arena in Manchester.

There will be no world title on the line as Prograis lost his WBC super-lightweight belt to Devin Haney in a one-sided unanimous decision bout.

But Catterall in particular will be aware that victory over the American star could see him move a step closer to a title shot.

When is Catterall vs Prograis?

• Jack Catterall vs Renan Prograis will take place on Saturday, October 26.
• Ring-walk times are yet to be announced but it is expected to be around 10:30pm/5:30pm.
• The huge fight will be held at the new Co-Op Live in Manchester and it can host approximately 23,500 spectators.

What TV channel is Catterall vs Prograis on and can it be live streamed?

• Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis will be broadcast LIVE on DAZN.
• DAZN PPV can be streamed in both the UK and US.
• You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month on a 12-month deal
• A flexible pass, worth £19.99-a-month, is also available, and you can cancel anytime.
• Alternatively, fans can live stream the action from the DAZN app which you can download onto your mobile or tablet device.

What is the undercard?

• MAIN EVENT: Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis
• Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr
• Pat McCormack vs William Andreas Herrera
• Campbell Hatton vs James Flint
• Ishmael Davis vs William Crolla
• Stephen Clarke vs Joe McGrail
• Emily Whitworth vs TBA

What has been said?

Jack Catterall has revealed that he is delighted that the fight will still take place and is excited to become the first headliner at the Co-Op Live.

El Gato said: “I’m delighted that a new date for my fight with Regis Prograis has been sorted so quickly.

“Big thanks to Matchroom, my team and Co-op Live for all of their hard work on this.

“To be the first boxer to headline at Co-op Live is going to be special and I’m really happy I’ll still get that opportunity.

“It was gutting having to pull out of a fight for the first time in my 30-fight career but I need to be fit and healthy going into one of the most important contests of my life.

“Thanks for everyone’s continues support and I’ll see you all on October 26!”