Red Bull officially launch DAS protest against Mercedes

Jamie Woodhouse
Mercedes PA

Red Bull protest Mercedes' DAS system in Austria

It has been confirmed that Red Bull have officially protested Mercedes’ Dual Axis Steering System in Austria.

The Austrian outfit had teased it throughout the race weekend, with Red Bull principal Christian Horner saying that while the system that allows Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to adjust the toe of their front wheels was impressive, they weren’t convinced it was legal.

And now their protest has been made official.

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Red Bull are appealing on the following grounds, as per Articles’ 3.8 and 10.2.3 of the FIA Technical Regulations.

3.8: Aerodynamic influence

With the exception of the parts described in Articles 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6, and the rear view mirrors described in Article 14.3, any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance :
a) Must comply with the rules relating to bodywork.
b) Must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom).
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.
Any device or construction that is designed to bridge the gap between the sprung part of the car and the ground is prohibited under all circumstances.
No part having an aerodynamic influence and no part of the bodywork, with the exception of the parts referred to in Articles 3.7.10, 3.7.11 and 3.7.12, may under any circumstances be located below the reference plane.
With the exception of the parts necessary for the adjustment described in Article 3.6.8, any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited.

Article 10.2.3 states that ‘no adjustment may be made to any suspension system while the car is in motion’.

 

More to follow…

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