- The Briton’s fight with the three-time world champion could go to the end
- MORE: FIA makes surprise rule change after Singapore Grand Prix
Lando Norris received a potential boost in his world championship quest on Thursday night after the FIA forced rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team to modify its car.
The intrigue centers on a controversial device that allows Red Bull to alter the height of its vehicle between qualifying and the race. The rules do not allow changes after qualifying when the cars are in parc ferme conditions.
A senior Red Bull team representative admitted: “Yes, (the device) exists although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to go.” In the correspondence we have with the FIA, this part came up and we agreed on a plan for the future.”
Norris, who won the last race in Singapore to reduce his deficit with Verstappen to 52 points with six races remaining, welcomed the news. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s US Grand Prix, he said: “If it has helped them and they have been using it the way people think they have, maybe it will change in our direction.”
‘When we look at the differences in the classification that have been just hundredths of a second, you could say that it has helped them.
Lando Norris has been applauded for a controversial Red Bull device banned by the FIA
The Briton is only 52 points behind the leader of the classification and current champion Max Verstappen.
“It’s good that the FIA is doing something like this. There is a difference between black and white things like this and Formula One that pushes the limits and innovates. We have done a very good job on that at McLaren.”
Cars perform better in lower ratings and higher races.
Meanwhile, Formula One will remove the bonus point for fastest lap from next year.
