McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has contended that Red Bull was “breaking” rather than “pushing boundaries” with its controversial ride height device in Formula 1.
As the United States Grand Prix approached, talk arose of a team with an adjustable ride height device that could be employed illegally under parc ferme.
Red Bull was identified as the guilty party, although was adamant its device couldn’t be used once its car was fully assembled.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit will collaborate with the FIA to ensure its car is legal at all times throughout the US GP weekend, but Piastri voiced his concerns over the saga.
When asked to comment, Piastri said: “I didn’t know that Red Bull had admitted to it. It’s not really for me to get involved in. I don’t really honestly know much about it.”
With regards to McLaren and its F1 competitors, Piastri added: “We’re pushing the boundaries of the technical regulations. Everyone is, that’s what makes F1, F1.”
Piastri questioning whether Red Bull is on the right side of F1 innovation
Despite not having known Red Bull was the concerned party at the time of questioning, Piastri voiced his issue with the team’s device.
“From what I’ve heard and been told something like this is not pushing the boundaries, it’s clearly breaking them,” he said.
“I haven’t heard which car it’s on or if it’s on any car, obviously there’s the reports of it.
“But if it is something that’s being used it’s clearly not been pushing the boundaries. It’s been out of the grey area and into the black area.”
Red Bull is adamant that it hasn’t breached F1’s regulations at any point with the device and the FIA has confirmed that it has no evidence to suggest otherwise either.
Still, motorsport’s governing body will be keeping a keen eye on all teams at Austin this weekend to ensure no breaches are being made to adjust cars under parc ferme.
McLaren was on the receiving end of a controversy following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – where a flexing uppermost element of its rear wing was alleged to be creating a ‘mini-DRS’.
The Woking-based outfit agreed with the FIA to make changes and its leading driver in the Championship standings, Lando Norris, reiterated McLaren is always working on the right side of the regulations.
“There’s a difference between black and white stuff like this, and there’s a difference between Formula 1 and pushing the boundaries and creating new things and innovating within the space that you’re allowed to innovate.
“I think that’s what we, as McLaren, have done a very good job of, but we’re sure not to go any further than that.”
READ MORE: Red Bull to make changes to F1 car as illegal ride height device confirmed
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