Formula 1
MERCEDES DAS SYSTEM RULED LEGAL AS RED BULL PROTEST REJECTED
Published
3 years agoon

Mercedes debuted the innovative steering solution during pre-season testing, allowing drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to adjust the toe angle of the car from within the cockpit using their steering wheel.
Mercedes’ new-for-2020 Dual Axis Steering (DAS) system has been found not to breach Formula 1’s Technical Regulations following a protest by Red Bull Racing after Friday practice.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, who finished first and second respectively in each of the two 90-minute sessions, were seen using DAS at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner had already foreshadowed a protest, stating on Sky Sports F1 during Practice 1 that his squad was after “clarification” about the system.
“We will wait to see if it is fitted to their cars, obviously it’s a complicated system, it’s a clever system,” he said.
“Obviously, we’re after some clarifications from the FIA, just are raising some questions about it.”
Mercedes was summoned to stewards on Friday evening (local time), with the protest officially rejected a short time ago.
DAS allows the drivers to adjust the toe of the front wheels by pulling the steering wheel towards them, ostensibly to increase tyre heat on the straights, and was debuted during pre-season testing in February.
Stewards determined that it is not illegal as they deemed it to be a steering system.
“The Stewards believe DAS is part of the Steering system, albeit not a conventional one,” read their conclusions, in part.
“The key challenges to the legality of DAS rely on it not being part of the Steering system.”
According to the summons issued by stewards, Red Bull’s protest concerns Articles 3.8 and 10.2.3 of F1’s Technical Regulations.
The former pertains to aerodynamic influence and states, “any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance must comply with the rules relating to bodywork” and “must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom)”.
It adds, “With the exception of the driver adjustable bodywork described in Article 3.6.8 (in addition to minimal parts solely associated with its actuation) and the parts described in Articles 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6, any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car.”
The latter article relates to geometry, stating, “no adjustment may be made to any suspension system while the car is in motion”.
In dismissing the protest regarding Article 3.8, stewards noted a ‘de facto’ exception for steering as the front wheels must necessarily have an aerodynamic influence.
Among the reasons for deciding that DAS is part of the steering system, stewards noted that “DAS re‐aligns the two front wheels via the same central mechanism that conventional steering does”, and also that the hydraulic nature of the system is consistent with conventional steering.
“Stewards conclude that the DAS system is not part of the suspension, nor can it be considered to illegitimately adjust the suspension,” they affirmed.
“Therefore the Stewards consider DAS to be a legitimate part of the steering system and hence to satisfy the relevant regulations regarding suspension or aerodynamic influence.”
Red Bull may well be preparing to implement its own version of DAS, with Horner responding to a question on Sky Sports F1 about whether or not his team was uncertain about using it by saying, “You could interpret it like that if you choose to.”
He added, “It depends what it actually does and achieves. Everything has to earn its place on the car.
“Obviously, it’s a clever system, an ingenious system, these rules are so complex, it’s just understand in which part of the regulations it fits.”
The system will not be allowed in 2021.
Practice 3 for the Austrian Grand Prix starts tonight at 20:00 AEST, followed by Qualifying from 23:00
READ MORE : MCLAREN WON’T PROTEST AGAINST THE RP20
READ MORE : FERRARI DIDN’T EVEN OFFER A CONTRACT AT VETTEL TO CONTINUE IN 2021
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE F1 NEWS VIA Facebook AND Twitter
MERCEDES DAS SYSTEM RULED LEGAL AS RED BULL PROTEST REJECTED – MERCEDES DAS SYSTEM RULED LEGAL AS RED BULL PROTEST REJECTED
You may like
-
Ford evaluating 2026 F1 entry, says Ford Performance Director
-
Vasseur, head of Ferrari F1, denies rumors of a 30 horsepower boost in the 2023 power unit
-
Why did McLaren F1 decide to invest in Oscar Piastri, is this decision a wise one?
-
A “wake up test” run for Sainz in a Ferrari F1 at Fiorano
-
F1 sends a legal notice to FIA – Analysis
-
F1 criticizes FIA president’s comments as “unacceptable”
-
key areas where Mercedes F1 2023 need to improve
-
FIA President calls F1’s $20bn value an “overvalued price.”
-
Hamilton claims to be unparalleled as a driver
-
Mike Hawthorn legacy continues to inspire new generations of drivers
-
Why did General Motors choose Formula 1?
-
Wolff and Horner have a strained relationship
Newsletter

First details of F1 2023 cars Ferrari and Red Bull’s RB19!

Ferrari’s 2023 F1 car may be faster by “at least one second”

Hamilton’s income for 2022 has been revealed

Ferrari outperforms Red Bull and Mercedes, an additional 30 horsepower

Details of Lewis Hamilton’s new contract with Mercedes

F1 driver salaries

Russell explains his edge over Hamilton in 2022

Wehrlein secures consecutive wins, leads Formula E 2023

Petter and Oliver Solberg won Race of Champions Nations’ Cup

Forbes: Liberty Media named most valuable sports empire for 2023

F1 2023 – A mental battle is expected between Gasly and Ocon

Ford evaluating 2026 F1 entry, says Ford Performance Director

Formula Regional – Race starts with big crash

F1 – Alonso impressed by Aston Martin’s motivation

New season of Drive to Survive

F1 Manager 2022 reveal trailer

VIDEO – Lewis Hamilton receives his knighthood

HIGHLIGHTS EPRIX 1 – DE VRIES WINS WET VALENCIA
F1 PRE-SEASON TESTING 2023 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Bahrain![]() |
|||
Date | Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
Day 1 | 23rd February | 8:00am – 12:00pm | 1:00pm – 5:00pm |
Day 2 | 24th February | 8:00am – 12:00pm | 1:00pm – 5:00pm |
Day 3 | 25th February | 8:00am – 12:00pm | 1:00pm – 5:00pm |
2023 F1 Car Launches | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Car Name | Date | |
![]() | Haas | VF-23 | 31 January |
![]() | Red Bull | RB19 | 03 February |
![]() | Williams | FW45 | 06 February |
![]() | Alfa Romeo | C43 | 07 February |
![]() | AlphaTauri | AT04 | 11 February |
![]() | Aston Martin | AMR23 | 13 February |
![]() | McLaren | TBA | 13 February |
![]() | Ferrari | TBA | 14 February |
![]() | Alpine | A523 | 16 February |
![]() | Mercedes | W14 | 16 February |
Next Race | ||
---|---|---|
Bahrain 2023 | ![]() | 05 Mar |
BRITISH TIME | ![]() | SESSION |
14:30 - 15:30 | Free practice 1 | |
18:00 - 19:00 | Free practice 2 | |
15:00 - 16:00 | Free practice 3 | |
18:00 - 19:00 | Qualifying | |
18:00 - 20:00 | Race | |
Bahrain | 57 laps | 308.238 km |
2023 F1 Calendar | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Race | Venue | Date | ||
1 | ![]() | Bahrain | Sakhir | 5th Mar. |
2 | ![]() | Saudi | Jeddah | 19th Mar. |
3 | ![]() | Australian | Albert P | 2nd Apr. |
4 | ![]() | Azerbaijan | Baku City | 30th Apr. |
5 | ![]() | Miami | Baku City | 7th May |
Drivers Standings 2023 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Driver | Team | Points | ||
1 | ![]() | Max Verstappen | ![]() | |
2 | ![]() | Lewis Hamilton | ![]() | |
3 | ![]() | George Russell | ![]() | |
4 | ![]() | Charles Leclerc | ![]() | |
5 | ![]() | Carlos Sainz | ![]() | |
6 | ![]() | Sergio Perez | ![]() |
