F1 | Haas disqualified: DRS opening exceeds maximum limit

Haas finished qualifying with a twelfth and fifteenth place which placed her outside the points zone. However, the problems ahead of the GP are not so much linked to the positions in which they finished on Saturday, but rather those from which they will start on Sunday afternoon, given that both cars were disqualified at the end of qualifying due to a technical irregularity .

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer reported the problems during scrutineering, writing in an official statement that “the adjustable positions of the upper element of the rear wing were checked on cars number 20 and 27. The outermost area at left and right of the adjustable elements exceeds the maximum permitted limit of 85 mm on both cars”.

In itself, the statement released by Bauer could already suggest that the conclusion of this story would be obvious because, when the single-seaters do not pass the technical checks, the issue is generally resolved with a disqualification. There are few cases in which team representatives have managed to subvert an accusation, but on an aspect as clear as the opening of the DRS, for which a clear measurement is enough, there is very little that can be done, except to demonstrate that the problem is related to some damage. In this case, however, given that there were no accidents and that the problem occurred on both single-seaters, the American team had to accept the commissioners’ ruling.

Precisely for this event, where maximum load counts to give the drivers as much confidence as possible, Haas presented itself with a rear wing modified in some aspects. The problem that led to the exclusion is linked to the opening of the mobile flap which, according to FIA measurements, exceeds the maximum 85 mm allowed by the regulation.

The Federation, as well as the teams, have a very simple tool for measuring the opening of the DRS, which consists of a cylindrical element to which an extension is connected. If the cylindrical part, which measures exactly 85 mm in diameter, manages to pass from one side of the mobile flap to the other, then the wing is not regular.

Trying to explain to the commissioners what happened, the team confirmed that it was an error in the adjustment of the flap opening due to the new design of the wing introduced here in Monaco: “The team explained that it was the consequence of an involuntary error on their part in setting the opening of the wing flap”, reads the statement released by the FIA.

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

“The wing used was a new design and was used for the first time in Munich. The old design was designed to comply with regulations with the maximum distance measured from the center of the wing. With the new design, the greater space [tra la parte inferiore e superiore dell’ala] It’s at the tip of the wing, but the team hadn’t trained its mechanics in measuring the span.”

“The obligation to strictly comply with the Technical Regulations always falls on the competitor. The team argued that non-compliance did not result in any performance advantage. Article 1.3.3 of the International Sporting Code makes it clear that this is irrelevant. The team candidly admitted their mistake. Given the admitted violation of the regulations, the cars were disqualified.”

Lewis Hamilton was punished for a similar issue in sprint qualifying for the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, which resulted in the Mercedes driver losing pole for the sprint, thus having to start the short race from last position.

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Magnussen qualified 15th in Q2 after being asked to abort his final flying lap, much to the Dane’s anger. Hulkenberg instead managed to move up to twelfth place, among other things by beating both Aston Martins and one of the two Racing Bulls.

However, the German then had to appear before the stewards for having obstructed Esteban Ocon’s Alpine in Q2: Hulkenberg explained that the radio communications were not working at that moment and, given the nature of the circuit in the offending stretch of track, i.e. the turns 3-4, he didn’t physically see the Frenchman approaching. Having seen what happened and mindful of the fact that other teams had reported problems with the radio, including Alpine itself, the stewards decided not to penalize the German.

This does not mean, however, that it will be an even more uphill race for the two Haas, given that they will have to start the race from the back of the grid.