Red Bull and Audi’s Floor Stay Loophole to Be Banned from 2027

The FIA’s Technical Working Group has announced that the floor‑stay exemption, which has enabled Red Bull and Audi to design sharper side‑pod undercuts in 2026, will be banned from the 2027 season onward. The decision, detailed by Formula1.com’s Mark Hughes, comes after a review of the 2026 technical regulations and the impact of the loophole on competitive balance.

Under the current rules, teams can use a floor stay to keep the floor at a fixed distance from the chassis, allowing them to shape the underside of the car in a way that generates additional aerodynamic downforce. Red Bull and Audi have exploited this to create a more pronounced undercut on the sidepods, giving them a performance edge in the high‑downforce corners of the track. The exemption was not explicitly prohibited, but it was deemed to be an unintended advantage that could skew the field.

According to Hughes, the FIA’s decision is part of a broader effort to tighten the technical regulations and promote closer racing. “The floor‑stay loophole has allowed teams to push the limits of aerodynamic design beyond what was originally intended,” he said. “By banning it from 2027, we aim to level the playing field and encourage more innovation within the spirit of the rules.” The change will affect all teams that have relied on the exemption, including Red Bull, Audi, and any other constructor that has used floor stays to shape their side‑pod aerodynamics.

For Indian fans, the ban means that the 2027 season will likely see a shift in the aerodynamic battle among the front‑row teams. Fans can catch the upcoming races on FanCode India, with live commentary in Hindi and English. The first race of the 2027 season will be the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 18 March, at 10:00 IST. The new regulations will be in effect from the start of the season, so all teams will need to adjust their car designs accordingly.

Source: Formula1.com