Wolff slams Red Bull's 'outrageous' trick device, Pirelli dropped special US GP trophies over copyright concerns, and other updates

Wolff slams Red Bull's 'outrageous' trick device

Toto Wolff criticized Red Bull Racing’s front bib adjustment device, calling it “outrageous” and suggesting the FIA might look into it more. The device changes the front bib height and is allowed as long as it isn’t changed during parc ferme conditions, which is why the FIA sealed it during the U.S. Grand Prix. Wolff questioned why Red Bull would create such a complicated device, suggesting it seems suspicious. He also made fun of the tool shown to the FIA, calling it a “Bugs Bunny” device, and thinks the FIA will need to address this issue further.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)

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Pirelli dropped special US GP trophies over copyright concerns

Pirelli changed its special 'Heroo' trophies for the F1 United States Grand Prix because of copyright issues. The design looked too similar to Bearbrick collectibles, so it was removed. Charles Leclerc got a traditional trophy, and Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen received Pirelli tyre trophies instead. Pirelli confirmed the change and took down the original announcement from its website.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net)

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Why the FIA fined US GP promoters $500k after fan breach

The FIA stewards fined the promoter and organizer of the United States Grand Prix $500,000 after fans got onto the track at COTA before all the cars finished their cool-down laps. About 200 spectators entered the track after the chequered flag and created an unsafe situation. The stewards said this was a violation of the FIA rules and suspended $350,000 of the fine until 2026, as long as there were no more incidents. The promoter must submit a safety plan by the end of 2024 to fix the issues and prevent future problems.

Click here to read the full article by Samuel Coop (racingnews365.com)

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Red Bull explains understeer behind struggles in Austin

Red Bull boss Christian Horner confirmed that extreme understeer was the reason for Max Verstappen's struggles during the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Despite starting strong with pole position and winning the Sprint race, Verstappen couldn't match his earlier pace and faced intense pressure from Lando Norris and the Ferrari drivers. Norris managed to overtake Verstappen on Lap 52, but a penalty for going outside track limits allowed Verstappen to finish third. Horner stated that the car's balance was engineered to have more understeer, which negatively affected tire performance and overall speed during the race.

Click here to read the full article by Taylor Powling (motorsportweek.com)

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Driver ratings for the Austin GP

The Circuit of the Americas weekend was full of action, with both a Sprint race and a Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton had a tough time, crashing on lap two after a bad qualifying session, and seemed distant from his Mercedes team as he prepares to join Ferrari. Zhou Guanyu had another rough weekend, as he stayed at the back of the field with no signs that he should continue in Formula 1. Both drivers showed the difficulties they are facing as the season nears its end.

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Lewin (f1i.com)