Lewis Hamilton has stepped in to defend Red Bull Racing amidst controversy over an ‘innovative’ technical device that has been flagged as potentially illegal by the FIA. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, reports emerged suggesting that one team was under investigation for a device that allowed the angle of the car’s bib or T-tray to be altered between qualifying and the race, a practice that could yield significant performance advantages. Red Bull later admitted that they were the team in question.

The device reportedly cannot be accessed or adjusted once the car is fully assembled, and it is not driver-operated. However, the governing body, FIA, took notice, and after looking into the matter, decided to clamp down on such systems. Despite this, Red Bull maintained that they were in compliance with the technical regulations.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s leading driver and reigning champion, dismissed suggestions that this device offered the team a major performance boost. He downplayed the impact it had on their overall success, shrugging off the criticism as exaggeration.

Hamilton, who has been a fierce competitor against Red Bull in recent years, particularly in his heated title battle with Verstappen in 2021, surprisingly came to Red Bull’s defense. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he acknowledged the importance of innovation in Formula 1 and the ongoing effort by teams to push the boundaries within the sport’s regulatory framework.

Hamilton explained that Formula 1 is centered around technical innovation and pushing limits, and Red Bull has been at the forefront of this endeavor. He emphasized that all teams, including Mercedes, strive to maximize performance by interpreting the rules in ways that stretch their technical capabilities—sometimes stepping close to the boundaries of legality. In this case, Red Bull had clearly found an advantage through their engineering, something Hamilton both acknowledged and respected.

“I’ve only just heard about it before I got here, but the name of our sport is all about innovation,” Hamilton said. “Red Bull have been the leaders, and they’ve innovated. Ultimately, all teams look at the rules and try to massage them to get the most out of it, even if it’s just a little over the edge.”

However, he noted that the FIA has a responsibility to monitor these technical innovations and enforce regulations to ensure fairness among teams. Hamilton suggested that while Red Bull may have had this advantage for some time, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it was the sole reason for their dominance in recent seasons.

“God knows how long they’ve had that, and they’ve been winning championships, but maybe that stops now,” Hamilton remarked. He also expressed doubt that addressing this particular issue would completely halt Red Bull’s success, underscoring the broader need for constant innovation across the entire grid.

In closing, Hamilton stressed the importance of innovation as a leading force in Formula 1, urging other teams to focus on evolving their own designs and strategies rather than simply trying to catch up with Red Bull.