Former FIA man Laurent Mekies says that while there are “a lot of things you can’t trust” in an F1 car, Formula 1 can trust the FIA ​​to make sure the rules aren’t broken become.

Red Bull hit the headlines as Formula One returned to action at the United States Grand Prix. The team raised its hand after a report revealed that a team had a number trick on their car.

Red Bull’s “Bibgate” made headlines in Austin

The trick allows the bib or T-tray to be adjusted, which changes the airflow under the car, which affects the car’s downforce.

It was a trick, the report said, that would allow the team to make changes between qualifying and the Grand Prix, which would be against the regulations.

But while Red Bull acknowledged they had such a system, the team insisted it was not used in parc ferme conditions because access was complicated.

Red Bull then conducted a demonstration for the FIA ​​after the first hour of practice in Austin, showing the motorsport governing body how to access the racing number height adjustment mechanism.

More about the adjustable bib from Red Bull

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👉 Details are emerging about how the height adjustment of Red Bull’s race number works

Mekies, who has previously worked with the FIA ​​on safety, believes that even if competitors don’t want to “trust” the secrets hidden in the RB20 or any other F1 car, they can trust that the FIA ​​​​knows about it takes place on a Grand Prix weekend.

“I was with the FIA,” the VCARB team boss told the media at Friday’s press conference in Austin, “and that’s why I trust the FIA ​​completely.”

“Seriously, there are many, many things you can’t trust a race car with. And parc fermé isn’t exactly a new rule. It’s been around for 15 years.

“So the FIA ​​had to watch for 15 years to see if we didn’t adjust things that we were able to adjust mechanically in that time from qualifying to the race, so there’s nothing new there. So I don’t think it’s a new additional burden.

“You can probably change your front or rear ride height, your sway bar or your damper settings with a click or a wrench. But the FIA ​​​​makes sure you don’t do that.

“And we have cameras and we have the marshals with us in our garage around the car the entire time we are in the garage between the end of qualifying and the start of the race. So I don’t think it’s a new problem.

“I think the FIA ​​needs to ensure that we do not make any changes to the car specifications or settings and I don’t think there is anything new here.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes that the rivals are making too big a deal out of “Bibgate”.

“Every car has a tool that allows them to adjust the front of the number board,” he said. “Ours is at the front, in front of the footwell.

“I think it’s been around for over three years. Getting there requires removing the pedals, other control panels, and plumbing.

“If you think that there is some kind of handbrake or lever that the driver can operate with a low, medium or high setting, I really have to disappoint you!”

Read more: Christian Horner suggests Red Bull rival ‘light a fire to distract’ as ‘Bibgate’ swirls