P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA has issued a technical directive ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix after Red Bull complained rival outfits were navigating a loophole in the regulations protecting excessive plank wear.
During F1’s ground effect era, ride height was crucial for performance, with a 1mm allowance on the floor plank and metal skid blocks permitted to preserve it. Teams utilized satellite skids to protect the main skids, exploiting a technical directive loophole. Teams like Ferrari increased satellite skid thickness, prompting FIA intervention post Red Bull’s alert and a new directive outlawing thick skids. This change forces teams to be cautious with ride height to comply with regulations and avoid performance loss, similar to the water injection concerns addressed by FIA.
