The FIA has introduced a mandatory rule change for all teams ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix through a new technical directive.

Formula 1 returning to the United States for the third time this season for this weekend’s event, with Max Verstappen knowing a win under the lights in Nevada would secure a fourth straight Drivers’ Championship.

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This is the case after a great drive in Brazil last timewhere the Dutchman extended his championship lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris to 62 points.

The FIA ​​issues technical directives

However, ahead of this weekend’s action, it has emerged that the FIA ​​has issued a technical directive in an attempt to crack down on teams exploiting a loophole to prevent plank wear.

In recent races, some teams have reportedly been able to preserve the planking of their car by installing skid blocks on the floor. Basically, this allows them to run their machines as close to the ground as possible without having to tear the plank over the 1mm allowance.

In an era of ground effect regulations, this likely gives these teams an advantage in terms of downforce and speed.

But according to Motorsportthe new technical directive removes some of the freedoms from a previous directive, which made it possible to exploit the loophole above.

Their report also claims that Red Bull was the team that flagged the issue to the FIA ​​after the Brazilian GP, ​​expressing concern that some of their rivals were taking advantage of the loophole. The FIA ​​has responded in good time and issued the new directive ahead of this weekend’s action.

Of course plank wear is a serious consideration for all teams, with any car going beyond their 1mm of plank wear allowance facing huge consequences in the form of penalties.

Last year, for example, it was both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix for such violation.

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