The FIA will outlaw the Red Bull aerodynamic trick that skirted regulations in 2026, forcing a 2027 redesign of the team’s lower sidepods.
FIA targets the cable‑based sidepod edge
Red Bull’s razor‑thin 20 mm radius undercut was enabled by a structural cable placed directly below the floor support stay. The loophole in the rulebook allowed the team to mould a sharper sidepod profile than rivals could legally achieve.
The style first emerged on the RB22 at the Austrian Grand Prix and was later mirrored by Audi during Baku, proving the advantage was both effective and attractive to competitors.
2027 regulation change closes the loophole
AutoRacer.it reports that the FIA will amend the 2027 technical regulations, limiting the floor support dimension to just 5 mm. By tightening that tolerance, the governing body removes the legal gap that enabled the cable‑based hack.
Consequently, Red Bull and Audi must rework the entire lower sidepod section before the next season, a move that will test the teams’ ingenuity during pre‑season testing.
In a classic pattern of Formula 1: a team finds a fence‑post, the paddock copies it, and the FIA patches the roof—now the riders will have to rely on fresh aerodynamic solutions in 2027.
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