JUNE 4, 2012

Will floor ruling hinder Red Bull?

The FIA has issued a technical directive banning the holes in the floor of the Red Bull RB8 ahead of next weekend's Canadian GP.

Sebastian Vettel, Monaco GP 2012
© The Cahier Archive

The FIA has issued a technical directive banning the holes in the floor of the Red Bull RB8 ahead of next weekend's Canadian GP.

There was considerable controversy over Red Bull's interpretation of the law on race day in Monaco and although there was no post-race protest, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes were all keen for a clarification.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said post-Monaco that the team had written clarification from the FIA for the design, but it now seems that the arguments from rival teams have persuaded the governing body to adopt a different stance.

The holes have been on the car since Bahrain, which was won by Sebastian Vettel and was the first race at which he felt entirely happy with his car balance this tear.

Team mate Mark Webber's Monaco win made it two out of three for the defending champions and cemented their position at the top of the constructors championship.

Red Bull is not believed to be planning to continue with the holes in Canada, which it would be free to do but which would be a risk given the FIA's directive and the fact that they would almost certainly be protested.

What will be interesting is whether the removal of the holes will rob the car of sufficient rear downforce to give the team balance issues once more.