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Perez denies Red Bull performance boost from controversial device
Sergio Perez is adamant Red Bull Racing did not benefit from having a ride height-altering device on the RB20. The Mexican insists the device wasn't used or even discussed during the internal team briefings.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, there was a suggestion that a team could change the ride height between qualifying and the race using a particular device. The FIA held talks, and Red Bull then admitted they had a device to alter the front bib height. However, the Austrian team claimed this device couldn't be used once the car was assembled.
There has been a mixed response from their rivals. Lewis Hamilton actually praised Red Bull for innovating but Oscar Piastri said it clearly breaks the rules if it has been used. Verstappen was surprised to hear it was about Red Bull, and Perez is also certain it wasn't used.
Perez joins Verstappen
"There's nothing that we were doing with it. We actually never talked about it," Perez said ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. "It was impossible. If anything, I remember, for example, here, that last year we had a Sprint event, so we ended up with the ride heights on the moon. We were completely out of it, because we were concerned that something like what happened to Mercedes could happen to us," Perez added, alluding to Lewis Hamilton's disqualification for excessive plank wear.
Perez doesn't expect any performance change. "No, zero," he said decisively. "I knew it existed but it was not available to us." Verstappen made similar statements. The Dutchman too said the device was not discussed during team briefings.
According to Perez, it is also all part of the struggle in F1, with teams keeping a close eye on each other. "I think it's down to the FIA to draw the line whether it's legal or illegal. And they are the ones that control the sport so at the end of the day that's up to them to decide," he explained. "I think every team is looking more at each other than probably sometimes FIA is looking at the cars. It's just quite an intense fight."
This article has been created in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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