The electronics of Rosberg’s Mercedes “contaminated” by a “foreign substance” in Singapore
The Mercedes AMG F1 team, after an internal investigation, revealed the cause of Nico Rosberg's retirement during the Singapore Grand Prix: the electronics of the steering column were contaminated by a substance used in the maintenance of the car's components.
On its official Twitter account, the Mercedes AMG F1 team provided details about the issue Nico Rosberg faced during the grid formation, which led to his retirement after around fifteen laps at the Singapore Grand Prix.
« Analyses revealed that the electronic circuits of the steering column were contaminated by a foreign substance, » stated Mercedes early in the evening. « The contamination was not visible and did not manifest itself until Sunday when Nico went onto the grid. The result was an intermittent short circuit in the electronic circuits which meant that Nico could not control the clutch or engine settings. New parts will be used for the upcoming races. Our hard work on reliability will continue with the same level of intensity. »
One hour later, in response to certain reactions and some articles immediately suggesting sabotage, the team decided to clarify: « To clarify, the contaminant was a substance used in the normal maintenance of the part before the GP. #NoConspiracy »
