Formula 1 is once again at the forefront of technical regulation changes as the FIA has issued a ban on a controversial F1 skid block loophole ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The decision which has taken teams by surprise comes in response to concerns raised by Red Bull Racing about the practices of rival teams who were reportedly using protective elements on their skid blocks to avoid excessive wear, a tactic that has now been deemed illegal.
The skid block, or plank, is an essential component of F1 cars, designed to protect the car’s floor from damage caused by contact with the track surface.
Under current regulations the skids must maintain a minimum thickness of 10mm with a tolerance of ±0.2mm and must not wear down below 9mm during a race.
This is crucial as excessive wear can lead to disqualification from events, as seen last season when both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the United States GP due to their skid blocks failing to meet the minimum thickness requirement.
Teams are permitted to place metal skid blocks around locations where they anticipate the most wear in order to assist avoid attrition around the four holes the FIA measures.
The teams were given more flexibility by a previous technical directive to install satellite skids, or supported skids, on the plank farther from the measurement spots. Although they didn’t mention thickness, it was believed that the extra support skids were acceptable as long as they had the same vertical rigidity as the main skids.
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The recent controversy began when it was discovered that some teams had been employing a skid block loophole to shield their skids from wear. Reports indicated that several teams, including Ferrari and Mercedes, were using a thicker insulating material between the floor plate and fastening screws.
“Around 50 percent of the field believed they had found a loophole in the regulations,” Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt said.
The thicker insulation effectively cushioned the screws and skid blocks, allowing these teams to lower their ride heights without risking disqualification due to wear. Such practices provided an unfair advantage by enabling teams to optimize their car setups for better downforce while circumventing FIA regulations.
Red Bull Racing took notice of these tactics and formally raised concerns with the FIA. The governing body responded swiftly by issuing a technical directive that banned these protective measures with immediate effect.
“A week before the Las Vegas Grand Prix, all teams received a technical directive in the mail,” Schmidt revealed. “The FIA announced that the protective skids in question were not permitted.
“Ferrari would have liked to have moved the ban to the Qatar GP, but was unable to get their way.”
The FIA’s decision highlights its commitment to maintaining a level playing field in Formula 1, ensuring that all teams adhere strictly to the regulations designed to promote fair competition.
The timing of this directive is particularly significant as it comes just before one of the most high-profile races in the calendar—the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
This weekend’s event attracts immense media attention as it serves as a critical point in the championship standings with Max Verstappen on the verge of clinching his fourth world title, therefore the stakes are higher than ever for all teams involved.
In light of the new directive to clamp down on the skid block loophole, teams have been forced to make rapid adjustments to their setups. Ferrari and Mercedes are reportedly among those who will need to recalibrate their strategies and car configurations in response to this ruling.
The potential impact on performance could be substantial, as any changes made at this late stage may affect the competitive edge these teams had hoped to maintain.
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