F1 teams are banned from making any changes to their car’s settings, apart from the angle of the front wing, from the start of qualifying, under what are known as parc ferme regulations.

The part in question that could be adjusted was what is called the “bib” or “tea tray”, which is the front of the floor in the middle of the car.

An FIA statement said: “Any adjustment to the front bib clearance in parc ferme conditions is strictly prohibited by the regulations.

“While we have not received any indication that any team is using such a system, the FIA ​​remains vigilant in our ongoing efforts to improve control of the sport.

“As part of this, we have implemented procedural adjustments to ensure that the front bib release cannot be easily altered.

“In some cases this may involve the application of a seal to provide additional assurance of compliance.”

Sources close to the matter say the FIA ​​was informed of the device on the Red Bull during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend last month.

Rivals had noted its existence in the so-called open source component documents that teams must provide to the FIA ​​regarding the design of their cars.

The ability to adjust the car’s floor would allow teams to better balance the demands of qualifying and racing.

A team would prefer the car to run lower in qualifying and higher in the race.

The F1 season resumes this weekend after a four-week break with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship as he targets a fourth consecutive title.