Lando Norris welcomes FIA clampdown on Red Bull’s use of ‘tea tray’ device

Lando Norris has welcomed the FIA clamping down on a potentially illegal device on his world championship rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull after the governing body deemed it could be used against the regulations to improve performance.

The McLaren driver was speaking before this weekend’s US Grand Prix as he prepares to go into a decisive showdown with Verstappen for the title over the remaining six races. Norris is 52 points behind with 180 still available across the next six meetings.

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Before running began on Friday the FIA issued a clarification that the device, believed to be used to adjust the car’s ride height between qualifying and races, when such adjustments are not permitted, could not be employed. Red Bull have come to an agreement with the FIA regarding their use of the system, which is believed to alter the ride height of the “tea tray” section which sits at the front of the car’s floor. Running a high height in the race over qualifying is considered an advantage.

“It’s good that the FIA are doing such a thing,” Norris said. “There is a difference between black and white stuff like this and pushing the boundaries and creating new things and innovating within the space you are allowed to innovate, and that is what we as McLaren have done a very good job in, but we are sure not to go any further than that.”

Norris played down the impact the use of the device may have had but in a tightly fought championship acknowledged it could yet make a difference.

“It’s one thing having it on your car and another on how much you exploit it and use it, which we have no idea on,” he added. “If it has been helping them and they have been utilising it in a way people think they have then maybe it will shift in our direction.”

In the buildup to this weekend’s race the FIA also announced it is to cease awarding a bonus point for the fastest lap from next season, removing the rule introduced in 2019.

The FIA did not provide a rationale for dropping the bonus point but the decision comes shortly after there was controversy at the last round in Singapore when Daniel Ricciardo was sent out to claim the fastest lap, denying it to Norris. Ricciardo was driving for Red Bull’s sister team RB at the time and – not being in the top ten – was not eligible to receive the point but did prevent Norris from scoring it.

Allegations of Red Bull bringing its influence to bear on the sister team were denied by the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner.