Here is the thing about Formula 1: whenever a rulebook is written, someone in Milton Keynes is already finding the exact millimeter where it bends. According to Crash.net, citing a report from AutoRacer.it's Rosario Giuliana, the FIA is stepping in to shut down a clever aerodynamic trick introduced by Red Bull earlier this season.
The clever bit of engineering involves the sidepod geometry on the RB22. F1 technical expert Craig Scarborough explained the mechanic on Instagram, pointing out that while regulations enforce a large minimum radius for aerodynamic sidepod edges, Red Bull found an ingenious work-around. By fitting a 'floor body stay'—essentially a cable running down the ridge of the sidepod—they triggered a rule allowing nearby bodywork to feature just a 20mm radius.
It is a classic piece of grey-area exploitation, first rolled out by the team back at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. But the party will not last forever. AutoRacer.it reports that the FIA's technical delegates plan to slam the door shut on the solution ahead of the 2027 season by shrinking the floor support dimension from 20mm down to a restrictive 5mm. That adjustment will completely kill the loophole, forcing the team to completely rework that section of the car for 2027.
All of this comes while the outfit is enjoying a serious resurgence on track, backed by consecutive dominant victories for Max Verstappen in Malaysia and Singapore. The reigning driver has made no secret of how much more cooperative the machine has become in recent weeks. “Our car has taken a really nice step forward,” Verstappen said after his win in Singapore, noting that the machinery became far more drivable and predictable from Baku onward.
Earlier in the year, the car was genuinely difficult to handle. “It was actually sometimes a bit scary to drive,” Verstappen admitted, reflecting on a machine that has since found a much better balance. While they are too far back to factor into the championship fight, the recent wins and podiums have restored confidence. As Verstappen put it, they are simply trying to enjoy the remainder of the season and stack up more trophies before the regulations inevitably shift again.
