Red Bull Racing will be forced to change its engine map settings ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, with the double title-winning squad coming under scrutiny at the most recent event in Germany. According to governing body the FIA, the team was using its throttle maps to improve cornering speed and traction performance, which is a breach of article 5.5.3 in the current sporting regulations.
At Hockenheim, Red Bull heads were summoned to the stewards to explain what technical delegate Jo Bauer explained was a differing set of maps compared to those that had previously been used in 2012. Despite the FIA disagreeing with certain aspects of the team's argument, it declared both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber's cars legal and the drivers were able to race without any known ramifications.
However, according to BBC Sport, the FIA has now clarified its position. Prior to this weekend's Hungaroring event, teams were allowed to freely change their torque maps from race to race, but this is no longer the case and an engine map from the opening four races of the season must now be submitted as a reference.
"Above 6,000rpm, the maximum engine torque may vary by no more than +/- 2%," read a rule clarification from the FIA, regarding the new reference map regulation. "And the ignition angle may vary by no more than 2.5%."
The benefit of this torque mapping tweak is unknown, but Red Bull (and any other teams exploting the wording of article 5.5.3) will need to revert back to an older setting.
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