Tensions are rising over technical regulations in the buildup to the US Grand Prix with rivals showing an intense desire to gain the edge

Fans can be forgiven for switching off when, with accusation and counter-accusation over the rather innocuous sounding element known as the “bib” or, with even more innocence the “tea tray”.

Yet these forays into sniping over the rules, much as they do not stir the sporting soul, do matter. Especially in a tightly-contested championship battle as this season has now become. The tiniest margin might make a difference and the two teams locked in battle, McLaren and Red Bull, know this. Bibtray-gate illustrates how the title protagonists are leveraging anything they can for an advantage, while Red Bull’s Christian Horner and McLaren’s Zak Brown, are rekindling what is already a rather healthy antagonism.