The first race of the 2020 season is not until Sunday, but Mercedes has already achieved a kind of victory after the stewards in Austria rejected a protest by its Red Bull rivals against its innovative dual-axis steering system (DAS). .
After two practice sessions led by Mercedes in the opening round at Spielberg, it was announced that Red Bull was protesting the legality of the system, that Mercedes first debuted in pre-season testing in February, and that it will be banned from 2021.
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Red Bull filed a protest for an alleged violation of the Technical Regulation, specifically article 3.8 that refers to aerodynamic influence and article 10.2.3, which states that “no adjustment can be made to any suspension system while the car is moving”.
Lewis Hamilton is using the DAS system in winter tests in Barcelona
However, after an audience of delegates attended by members of both teams (in person or by video), as well as Nikolas Tombazis from the FIA Technical Department, it was determined that DAS is part of the steering system of the Mercedes W11, “Although not a conventional one”.
As a result, delegates decided that DAS could not violate any regulations related to suspension.
“As a general conclusion, it is very simple to conclude that DAS would be illegal IF it were not part of the management system,” the delegates’ document reads. “Therefore, the main challenge and debate must be whether it can be considered part of the management system. Delegates decide that DAS is part of the management system.
“Therefore, the Stewards consider DAS to be a legitimate part of the steering system and therefore complies with relevant regulations regarding suspension or aerodynamic influence.”
The delegates’ full verdict, with lengthy explanations of how they arrived at their verdict, can be read here.
The result means Mercedes can continue to run the system, which is believed to allow the tires to heat more evenly on the straights, reducing wear and aiding grip, while allowing maximum stability at the inlet of the corner.
Meanwhile, his rivals can now adopt a version of the system before the season ends, and Red Bull boss Christian Horner has already hinted that his team can do just that …
