Did the FIA ​​intervene? On Red Bull's revival and Mclaren's decline

When Christian Horner sat down at a large table on the first floor of the Red Bull Energy Station an hour after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and GPblog immediately asked him if he was also surprised by his team's performance, the team boss began with: "We were sort of more surprised about McLaren's lack of performance."

In hindsight, it's an interesting comment, as the sudden difference in performance may well be prompted by two Technical Directives (TDs), which the FIA had sent to the teams prior to the Grand Prix in Imola. The first of the TDs was a report of communication that had taken place between the FIA and Red Bull Racing, after the Austrian team had raised questions about components that are allowed or not allowed for cooling the tyres.

For some time, it has been known that Red Bull suspected McLaren of having found unauthorised ways to influence tyre temperature. The team of Max Verstappen believed that McLaren thereby gained an advantage and as a result, could keep the Pirellis alive longer. The FIA has now made clearer what is and is not permitted in the cooling of tyres and their related systems. It's possible then that McLaren had to make an adjustment.

The second TD reportedly dealt with the measurement of the materials of the skid blocks and the ways in which some teams had found clever methods to pass the test results measuring the depth of the plank.

The TD now clarifies which types of materials are used in the skids, how they should be attached, so that it should no longer be possible to perhaps exceed the limit and still pass the test. In theory, this could mean that some teams might have to adjust the ride height of their vehicles accordingly.

Whether McLaren was indeed affected by both TDs remains speculation. However, what is certain is that Red Bull performed better and McLaren worse in Imola.