Max Verstappen F1 News: Red Bull star DEFIANT over forced FIA car change

Max Verstappen, FIA, 2024, Social, Photoshop — Photo: © IMAGO

United States GP

Verstappen DEFIANT over forced FIA Red Bull car change

The FIA have intervened with Red Bull's car ahead of the race at COTA

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Sunday 20 October 2024 12:56 Updated: 16:39

Max Verstappen has delivered a despondent response over the FIA’s forced Red Bull car change at the US Grand Prix.

Lando Norris has steadily chipped away at Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship thus far in 2024, with 54 points separating them as they head into Austin, following Verstappen's sixth consecutive sprint victory on Saturday.

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The McLaren star achieved a commanding victory last time out in Singapore, whilst Verstappen has failed to win a race since the Spanish GP earlier this year.

Verstappen and the Red Bull team have been left frustrated with their car issues as the season has progressed, falling behind their rivals and unable to recover their previously dominant form.

Lando Norris has six races to chase Max Verstappen down in the drivers' championship

Max Verstappen has been left frustrated by his Red Bull's performance at recent races

Can Red Bull improve at the US Grand Prix?

Red Bull have brought fresh upgrades to Austin in a bid to try and stop Norris and McLaren from taking both world titles, but have instead found themselves at the centre of an FIA investigation.

F1 teams expressed their concern about a device in their car which allowed settings to be changed to alter the height of its front bib under parc ferme conditions, adjustments that are illegal under the current technical regulations.

Red Bull subsequently worked to develop a plan moving forward with the FIA making modifications on the device to immediately seal it in time for the US GP.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz in Austin, Verstappen seemed unbothered about his team’s chances this weekend and discussed the car changes enforced by the FIA.

Max Verstappen discusses his chances at the US Grand Prix

“I'm not really worried about anything. I just want to have fun and try the best I can,” he said.

“Every race is important, naturally, this one is also very important and we want to do well.

“We’ll see with the upgrades that we have what it does to the car. There are also a lot of changes to the track you know with the tarmac so we also need to get on top of that.

“And with the T-tray nothing changes, that's all okay.”

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Red Bull Max Verstappen FIA Lando Norris drivers' championship