– It is in the nature of sport to bend the rules, says Viaplay commentator Atle Gulbrandsen about the Red Bull debts. According to several mediums, Red Bull will suspect main rival McLaren of filling the tires with water or other liquid to limit the temperature in the tires during the race. This is reported by the renowned Auto Motor und Sport. The Dutch Telegraaf does the same. Potentially, a lower temperature will prevent wear and allow a higher speed over time, but the method – if the suspicions are correct – is not permitted in Formula 1. The rulebook says that only air or nitrogen can be filled in the tire and that it is not permitted to use other substances to reduce moisture. – We are on the cusp of a world championship. The teams are then willing to look for any loopholes and they are also keen to report suspicious activity at other teams, explains Viaplay’s Gulbrandsen. EXPLANATOR: Atle Gulbrandsen believes that the latest events are a result of the fact that we are in the rush of the Formula 1 season. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB The FIA has confirmed that they are investigating the debts, while tire supplier Pirelli is said to have discovered nothing abnormal in the tyre. Several debtors Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren) are fighting for the WC title with four races left in the season. McLaren leads the constructors’ championship with 581 points ahead of Ferrari (547) and Red Bull (518). Suspicions of various forms of foul play have been common between the two big teams in recent months. Red Bull were unhappy that McLaren’s rear wing was too flexible in Baku (September 15). They were asked to change it by the FIA. McLaren said a few weeks later that Red Bull had a function that made it easy to change the height of the car. It is not allowed between qualifying and the race. The FIA believed that no rules had been broken, but took action to rule out the possibility. LARGE CREW: This group will ensure that everything is in place for a good race for McLaren. Photo: {byline} / AP Gulbrandsen believes that the latest debtors may fall into the same category, which results in warnings instead of severe penalties. – You often cannot prove such things. No one was caught for the other debts when the check was carried out at the weekend, and then a message comes from the FIA (Motorsportforbundet) that nothing has been found, says the Viaplay commentator. In any case, he points out that if someone actually fills the tire with liquid, it will be a big competitive advantage. – They will get a cooling liquid so that the tires don’t get too hot. If in one way or another you get a lower temperature in the tyre, then that is a huge advantage, says Gulbrandsen. Red Bull in trouble As mentioned, it is Red Bull and McLaren who are fighting for the title in the drivers’ championship with Verstappen and Norris as the leading drivers. – Red Bull has lost a lot in the constructors’ championship and is down to third place. The constructors’ championship determines the payouts the teams receive when the season is over, and there is a difference of NOK 200 million in prize money from first to third place, he says and continued: – Motorsport differs from other sports when it comes to bending the rules. If you are caught cheating, there are incredibly severe penalties. But the thing about motorsport is that it is a material sport and it is in their nature to find pitfalls. On Sunday, Verstappen will try to defend the lead in the drivers’ championship in Brazil. He still gets off to a tough start when he starts as number 17 in the main race. Norris starts in the front row. Published 03.11.2024, at 15.52 Updated 03.11.2024, at 15.54
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