DAS on the steering wheel of the Mercedes: the FIA approves the system
It was at 1 AM on the night from Friday to Saturday that the FIA made its decision regarding Mercedes' famous DAS, validating the mechanical system despite the complaint filed by Red Bull a few hours earlier.
Seen during winter testing, Mercedes’ DAS had already generated a lot of buzz. Used during these first free practice sessions of the season in Austria, based on the same principle as before which involves adjusting the toe of the front wheels via an action on the steering wheel, the system named DAS remains valid for the rest of the weekend.
Having already been the subject of a complaint this winter, the FIA had already validated the device, but the other teams didn’t seem to agree. Thus, the Red Bull team filed the complaint this Friday, after FP2, based on articles 3.8 and 10.2.3 of the Technical Regulations, related to aerodynamics and the suspension system.
It must be believed, however, that the lawyers at Mercedes had prepared their move well, surely anticipating the complaints to come. Indeed, after a few hours of deliberations, the FIA delivered its verdict:
« The DAS is a legitimate part of the steering system and is therefore compliant with the corresponding rules regarding the influence on suspension or aerodynamics. ».
The use of DAS remains valid for the rest of the weekend and probably for the rest of the season because in the regulations, the DAS system is physically and functionally part of the steering system. Thus, it benefits from implicit exceptions to certain suspension rules applicable to steering.
Let’s recall that this engineering system, which exploits a subtle legal loophole, will be banned from 2021 following an anticipated modification of the upcoming technical regulations.
DAS ist gut pic.twitter.com/qvAhSWbBBn
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 4, 2020
