Red Bull has admitted that a device to alter its front bib height does exist but insists it cannot be used while the car is assembled.

Speculation about a team exploiting a way of lifting and lowering the height of its T-tray erupted on the eve of the United States Grand Prix when the FIA revealed that it was imposing a clampdown on the matter.

The governing body said that following concerns expressed by teams about potential exploitation by a rival of parc ferme rules to adjust its ride height between qualifying and the race, new procedures were being introduced from the Austin weekend.

One way that this could be done would be through the fitting of seals on devices that can be adjusted to alter the ride height of the front bib to ensure they cannot be moved.

As teams gathered in Austin for this weekend’s F1 race, it became clear that the focus of the matter revolved around the Red Bull team.

Sources suggest that competitors had been alerted at the Singapore Grand Prix to speculation about the Milton Keynes-based squad having a way to adjust its front bib height through a change of settings on a component in an area accessible from the cockpit.

This was found through Red Bull having to publish design details of that element on FIA servers as part of the regulations revolving around open-source parts.

It has been suggested that this device had a range of settings that could be adjusted by a mechanic to help alter the height of the ride height.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, in the pits during FP3

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Performing this action would be allowed throughout practice, so the component itself is not outside the regulations, but it would be illegal if changes were made under parc ferme conditions that begin from qualifying and last until the race.

It is understood that discussions took place between teams concerned about the matter and the FIA over the Marina Bay circuit weekend.

Following those talks, it is understood that the governing body held talks with Red Bull before the race there to ensure that it was not doing anything untoward.

Speaking this week, the FIA said that there was no evidence that Red Bull had actually adjusted the device while the car was under parc ferme conditions.

However, from now on, monitoring of this aspect of the car would be ramped up to ensure it was an area where no one could work outside the regulations.

Red Bull has denied doing anything untoward and insists that the device that has emerged as central to this matter cannot be altered once the car is assembled.

A senior team representative said: “Yes it exists although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run.

“In the numerous correspondence we have with the FIA, this part came up and we have agreed a plan going forward.”

The controversy over the ride height adjustment comes ahead of what will be an intense battle between Red Bull and McLaren for the F1 title.

Both teams are keeping a close watch over what their rival is up to, with McLaren having recently been on the receiving end of a probe about the flexibility of its rear wing.

With the way it which its upper element helped rotate back to open up the slot gap earning it the ‘mini-DRS’ tag, it agreed to make modifications following discussions with the FIA.

Yuki Tsunoda says Liam Lawson’s arrival at RB in place of Daniel Ricciardo will add “a bit more spice” to the intra-team battle, as both look to impress Red Bull for a future Formula 1 drive.

Lawson was announced as Ricciardo’s replacement following the Singapore Grand Prix for the rest of the season, although had been linked over the summer to Sergio Perez‘s Red Bull seat before the primary team publicly backed the Mexican driver.

The suggestions that Lawson would leapfrog Tsunoda in the Red Bull pecking order came when the Kiwi was given time in the 2024 RB20, as the team considered life after Perez earlier this year.

Tsunoda had previously suggested that it would be “weird” if Lawson got the nod at Red Bull ahead of him, and now reckons that his return to RB – having raced as Ricciardo’s substitute at AlphaTauri last year – will raise the stakes between them.

The Japanese driver says that his priority is to beat Lawson but crucially ensure the team secures sixth in the championship.

“I’m sure it will increase the kind of mentality of trying to not get beaten, but I guess that’s natural,” Tsunoda said.

“Maybe slightly a bit more spice on top of it than usual, but I think it was similar to last year as well. I know that those things are just floating around anyway.

Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

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“But at least on my side, I just focus on what I have to do, and obviously Liam will do a good job as well.

“I’ll make sure I’ll be ahead of him, and hopefully we can achieve P6 in the team championship. That’s the main goals.”

Tsunoda added that although Lawson will intensify the team-mate battle at RB, he already felt that he was in a shootout with Ricciardo to impress given the tentative future of Perez at Red Bull.

He reiterated that the best way to put himself in the shop window was to complete the job of securing sixth in the constructors’ standings, and that opportunities would naturally present themselves afterwards.

“I thought it’s kind of like this situation already with Daniel,” Tsunoda added. “Those sort of things, it’s always floating around anyway. To be honest, I got used to it and there’s no point to talk about it.

“I just have to keep proving myself as a result and how I work throughout the race weekends; keep focusing on what I have to do and those opportunities, it’s up to them and we’ll see how it goes.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“You have to be ahead all the time and that will be what depends on the next year’s contract and everything.

“But it’s always for me, it’s part of the whole season and we built already until this point, including Daniel, that P6 right now in the teams’ championship.

“If we weren’t able to achieve those things, I would get very frustrated at the end of the season.”

Sebastien Ogier opened up a slender early lead over World Rally Championship title favourite Thierry Neuville after the opening two stages of the Central European Rally.  

The eight-time world champion made an impressive start to the 18-stage three-country asphalt rally to lead Neuville by 0.9s. The latter can seal a maiden world title this weekend. 

Ogier kicked off proceedings by winning the Velka Chuchle (2.55km) super special stage, held around a horse racing course near the Czech capital Prague.

The Toyota driver took the stage win by 0.6s from team-mate Takamoto Katsuta, making his return to the WRC after the team opted to bench the driver for last month’s Rally Chile.

Ogier then trailed Neuville by 1.1s when the crews tackled stage two (Klatovy, 11.78km) as darkness descended on the slippery asphalt road. The Frenchman’s run did include a minor excursion across a grassbank. 

Neuville made the most of starting first on the road to set the pace despite suffering cosmetic damage to the aero on the front right of his i20 N incurred after clipping a hay bale in the previous stage.

The Belgian was a second quicker than title rival and Hyundai team-mate Ott Tanak, whom he needs to outscore by two points this weekend to lift the world title. 

Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team

Photo by: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport

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“I can’t be happy, to be honest. I took off the aero on the front right by stupidly touching a straw bale, it will handicap me for the whole day tomorrow. Let’s see, it wasn’t too much of a disaster,” said Neuville.

Andreas Mikkelsen making a welcomed return to the WRC piloting Hyundai’s third i20 N headed into Friday’s stages sitting third overall, 1.7s adrift.

Mikkelsen attributed his pace to taking a different set-up direction that suited his driving style, having previously copied the set-ups of team-mates Neuville and Tanak at previous asphalt events.

“It was fun, now is the first time I have enjoyed driving the car on Tarmac,” said Mikkelsen. 

“I changed a lot in my set-up and it was mind-blowing in there. It was really enjoyable to drive. It has been a long time since I have had that feeling. I’m looking forward to the weekend now.”   

Katsuta also enjoyed the feeling behind the wheel of his GR Yaris to end the day in fourth overall, two seconds off the pace.

“Time is very good. I didn’t push so much but I’m enjoying this car a lot, said Katsuta. “It was getting darker and darker all the time, but all the pace note information is going well. I need to be a bit steady tomorrow as it is the biggest day of the rally.”

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

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Tanak rounded out the top five, three tenths faster than M-Sport-Ford’s Adrien Fourmuax, who finished ahead of Toyota’s Elfyn Evans (+3.1s) and Sami Pajari, competing in his first Rally1 outing on asphalt.

The top 10 was completed by M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster and WRC2 title contender Oliver Solberg, although the latter isn’t scoring championship points this weekend. 

Solberg’s WRC2 title rival Yohan Rossel was incredibly fortunate not to roll his Citroen when he ran wide and clipped a hay bale that sent the car onto two wheels, destroying the right rear. The Frenchman dropped 33.1s to class leader Solberg. 

Six stages in the Czech Republic await the crews on Friday before moving into Germany and Austria across the weekend.

It’s race week in Austin, Texas, a city that punches above its weight when it comes to both tourist offerings and entertainment — but you’ve got to know where to look. From wild hotel pool parties to food truck breakfast tacos, track-goers will have plenty of options near Austin and Circuit of The Americas (COTA) while the track action is quiet. 

Whether you’ve finished your Austin F1 weekend itinerary, or have yet to start filling those off-track hours in, Motorsport has pulled together a guide to some of the hippest spots in town for shopping, bar hopping, and, of course, barbecue. 

Pit stops

Start with a selfie at the R-rated, neon, erect Austin Motel sign, which cheekily beckons visitors to South Congress, a thoroughfare through South Austin that offers a zany hodgepodge of iconic, Instagrammable locations. Buy a day pass and cannonball into the motel’s pool for a wild pool party, energized by the poolside bar.

Photo by: Courtesy of Heritage Boot

Shoppers beware: it’s easy to get carried away during a visit to SoCo, as the street is called. Try on some of the finest cowboy boots in the country at Allens Boots — a place which both Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo have graced and embraced their inner cowboys —  or Heritage Boot, just two of the boot sellers on the street. Then check out the YETI flagship store, which has its own bar so you can grab a drink while you ponder a cooler. The vintage shopping along here is great too: STAG Provisions for Men and Feathers Vintage are two SoCo classics. And don’t forget to pick up a treat at Big Top Candy Shop or Monkey See, Monkey Do!, a delightfully kitschy toy store for all ages.

While you’re on the south side of town, drop by Bouldin Creek Cafe, a vegan, all-day diner with a prime patio. The funky hub is a quick way to settle into true Austin-chill vibes, and their blueberry cornbread is one of the city’s proven hangover cures.

Sprint weekend BBQ

Certainly no Austin visit would be complete without a tray full of bones and a lap full of napkins. The famous Franklin Barbecue is delicious and worth a planned stop. Planned — as the problem is that the line to get their meat can stretch for hours, and will be even longer during the F1 race weekend. A savvy traveler will look for less-popular spots, and East Austin is a neighborhood with great options.

A full spread of Franklin Barbecue meats and sides.

Photo by: Wyatt McSpadden

Micklethwait Craft Meats is an East Side trailer with picnic tables out front — kind of the perfect setting for an Austin barbecue experience. Try their Tex-Czech sausages, which offer flavors hard to find in other regions. And don’t sleep on the citrus beet salad, the perfect counterpart for fatty cuts.

La Barbecue is another East Side barbecue gem and a rarity in the barbecue world: it’s owned by a woman. Even though it presents a bit of a shorter wait than at Franklin’s, there’s almost always a line here too. But the good news is that it’s possible to order ahead for pickup. If you’ve got a group of about 10, try to pick up one of their tailgate packages for a sampler of all of their best cuts — just be sure you’re getting the peppery, perfect brisket.

Party Fermé

After you’re done gorging yourself on Austin’s best barbecue, you’ll need to dance it off. Most people seeking nightlife fun in Austin end up roaming up and down 6th Street. And 6th is certainly worth a wander, because the scene during a Formula 1 weekend will be buzzing and cheerfully chaotic. 

Psst, race fans: a few blocks south, you’ll find Rainey Street, a strange little historic road that has become the city’s most unique hotspot stretch. The craftsman bungalows have been turned into patio-blessed bars, which are dwarfed by the new apartment buildings towering above. At night, this stretch is packed with people looking for a memorable night (you’re practically guaranteed to run into a bachelorette party). 

The Stay Put’s ‘dynamite IPA’ in an appropriately-themed boot-shaped glass.

Photo by: Courtesy of The Stay Put

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Start your Rainey experience with some bratwurst on the patio at Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden, the perfect spot to take in the Rainey scene. Once ready to carouse, proceed to bungalow hopping at Lucille Patio Lounge, a cozy bar with hammocks in the back. Then hit up The Stay Put, which brews a dynamite IPA, or hit up the Rainey classic Clive Bar, which has been expanded to meet the soaring demand of Rainey’s roaming partiers.

Final lap

In Austin, there is no such thing as a morning-after that doesn’t include a saucy, savory Mexican breakfast. Breakfast tacos are the town religion; having one every single morning is not just acceptable, it’s encouraged. 

Some local favorites include Vaquero Taquero and Veracruz All Natural, both with Downtown locations, or Pueblo Viejo, with an East Riverside location between Downtown and the track.

Revelers basking in the cosmopolitan nature of auto racing know that a unique joy of being an F1 fan is being able to immerse themselves in the local culture, whether it’s raincoats and lager at Silverstone or cowboy hats and barbecue in Austin.

Besides, you never know who you’ll bump into when off-track during an F1 weekend: drivers, mechanics, and celebrities have lives, too… .

Formula E organisers have been unable to find a 17th race for the upcoming season that leaves a two-month gap in the schedule, but plan to host an as-yet-unannounced event that will “maintain engagement with fans”.

A 17-race calendar was initially announced in June by the all-electric championship, with a TBD slot slated for the 8 March which would have been the fourth round in the schedule.

But at the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting on Thursday, the governing body confirmed that only a 16-race season would be held, beginning with Sao Paulo in December and ending in London next July.

Motorsport.com understands that Chiang Mai in Thailand was originally proposed as the TBD venue but a change in government meant that the possibility of holding a Formula E race in the country for the first time fell through.

Other alternative options were also explored, including a second race in China with a return to Sanya alongside a visit to Shanghai on 31 May-1 June, as well as potentially hosting a third race in Berlin, which already has a double-header on 12-13 July.

Fans at the podium

Photo by: Andreas Beil

It means there is now a two-month gap between the third round in Saudi Arabia, using a truncated version of Jeddah’s Formula 1 layout on 14-15 February for the first time, and the inaugural race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in the US on 12 April.

It is also the second year in succession where a scheduled race has been lost from the initial schedule, after Hyderabad was removed from the 2023/24 calendar again due to changes in local government.

Following the WMSC meeting, a Formula E spokesperson said: “We are excited to deliver the calendar of 16 Formula E races in Season 11 that was announced earlier this year – the same number that led to record-breaking fan and broadcast audience growth globally.

“Across 10 events we’ll race at several long-standing favourites, with upgrades to double headers in some locations and some fantastic new venues in key markets.

“With the arrival of the new Gen3 Evo technology putting our drivers behind the wheel of the fastest cars ever raced in Formula E, we can’t wait to get the season started and couldn’t be more excited about the potential the championship has to thrill and attract new fans.

“Work is already underway to build and maintain engagement with fans all season long, with more details to be announced in the coming months.” 

As the Circuit of The Americas prepares to host the US Grand Prix for a 12th time, a trio of Formula One teams have made their way to the Lone Star State with fresh liveries.

The 19th race in the 2024 F1 calendar and the second of three to be hosted by the US this season — following a trip to Miami in May — Austin will mark another opportunity for Haas F1 Team to impress their home fans some 1,200 miles away from the team’s base in North Carolina.

This time around, Haas has announced that Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen’s VF-24s will take to the 5.5-kilometer circuit sporting a unique take on their usual black, white, and red livery.

With stars and stripes across the front wing, hints of blue can also be seen throughout the design. Most notably, the fresh paintwork includes an eagle and star design on both side pods alongside the team’s logo.

The team revealed their bold new look on X, tweeting, “Made in America…Turning up to Texas with symbols of home.”

Aside from Haas, McLaren‘s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastriwill also take to the Texas tarmac donning striking new liveries.

McLaren United States GP livery

Photo by: McLaren

The Woking-based team is adding a mirror-esque finish to the MCL38, with chrome adorning much of the side pods and airbox cover in celebration of their ongoing partnership with Google. Chrome will also be present on both Norris and Piastri’s race suits in Austin.

This will mark the second time this livery has been run by McLaren after it made its debut at the 2023 British Grand Prix.

According to the team, the decision to bring back the chrome livery is a continuation of their “Chrome Shines Again” campaign, which they say acts as a nod to “the iconic chrome from McLaren race cars of seasons past.”

However, the star of the show in Austin will arguably be Alpine. The Enstone team has partnered with sponsors Xbox on a thoroughly unique design for the upcoming grand prix, celebrating the impending release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle — which is slated for release in December.

Alpine F1 Team United States GP livery

Photo by: Alpine

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The A524’s bare carbon fiber heavy shell will be covered in torn sections of an aged map, reminiscent of those seen within the iconic movie franchise. The game’s logo also features just in front of the side pods, with the driver’s numbers written in the same unique font on the nose.

Alpine’s “sunset orange” scheme including a world map will also be used on Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s one-off racing suits, as per F1.

“Working with the Xbox team to bring alive the incredible Indiana Jones and the Great Circle livery for the United States Grand Prix has been fantastic,” Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes said. 

“The new look will be right at home in the Austin setting this weekend.”