Hey, Per Fpiloto, Lotus are going to formally protest this tomorrow in China. That should mean a ruling will be issued pretty fast pending any appeal. [It'll be in or out by the next race I believe.] So, the question becomes - Should it be allowed or outlawed? Note, not *will* it be, but *should* it be? Does it give them an unfair advantage? Or is it simply a very clever interpretation? Vote now! Cheers, Ian EDIT; THE THREAD TITLE IS WRONG! Please read the poll question before voting - Sorry 'bout that!
Ian, I think the title of your message: "should the Mercedes DRS be outlawed" and the title of the poll itself "should the mercedes DRS be allowed" may induce a certain form of confusion: if I read your message first, I believe that I should vote "yes" for outlawing it, and if I vote yes, in fact I am saying that it should be allowed? Confusing, isn't it? Best
Oops! Sorry 'bout that - A quick edit fixed it! Thanks for pointing that out! Cheers, Ian EDIT; Damn it! - Poll subject changed - Could a mod please change the thread title too - TIA!
I think the Mercedes Super DRS should be permitted. It's a clever interpretation of the rules - if we squash all innovation then F1 just becomes a spec series. All the best, Andrew.
I've got a bad feeling you were also confused by my bad wording! - *Please* change the title from "outlawed" to "allowed" - Thanks!
It's a moveable device to help the aero. Clearly against the rules. No idea why it hasn't been banned yet.
I beg to differ. The rules define the DRS as an overtaking aid - That is and remains it's *primary* purpose. That it happens to have a secondary function of reducing drag at the front is irrelevant - It's devices whose *primary* purpose is improving aero that are banned. Cheers, Ian
I don't think it should be banned. Its definitely a very clever thought process to include it within the regs. If you are going to ban it, then the FIA needs to ban ALL moveable aero parts, driver aids and or recovery systems in my eyes. I don't think there would be as much press about it if Red Bull was out front again.
The Mercedes DRS system should be allowed. What should be changed is the stupid rule that allows DRS to be used anywhere, anytime, during practice and qualifying. Since the whole DRS technology was implemented to aid overtaking during the race, in specific DRS zones only, then an easy fix would be to restrict the use of DRS to the specific DRS zone only, even in practice and qualifying.
+2 Well noted. The problem is they'd need unanimous approval from the teams to change the rules in such a manner - I very much doubt Merc would go along with it........ As with everything in F1, nothing is as easy as it first seems. Maybe next year they could/should make that change. Cheers, Ian
For all the 'within the spirit' of the rules talking going on from Red Bull I'm amazed they can keep a straight face. Of course the Merc system should be allowed. The FiA allowed a moveable element on the car in the form of DRS and there is zero specification noting secondary devices to this movement are not allowed.
Just to play devil's advocate, I'd like to hear your argument as it pertains to the written rule and how the system does not fit within that rule. The idea that it is moveable aero device doesn't fly because the system doesn't move. It's a bunch of pipes. DRS moves which is allowed. The hole in the plate just happens to be there and it also doesn't move. LOL. So, DRS is not allowed because it's moving? Wait, I've gone cross-eyed.
+1 Seems as if it is just another case of a team who is underperforming/mid-pack crying and whining because their team did not think of "it" first.
IMO RedBull are just getting there own back for all the moaning and whining about their flexi wings and blown diffuser. Don't blame em. In a sense and as usual it's in the grey area zone and interpretation on the wording in the rules. Ross is well savvy enough to know how to play the game, he did it with BrawnGP. I highly doubt it will get banned, I think it should be allowed, on the grounds of clever interpretation.
Should be allowed...doesn't break the rules and there is no such thing in professional sports as "spirit" of the rules. There's a rule that says wings shouldn't be allowed to flex with a specific weight attached in a static test. Red Bull clearly found a clever way to pass the test, doesn't change that the spirit of the rule was being broken, they didn't seem to mind breaking the spirit of the rule in that regard... Too much whining, especially from Lotus, super tired of their re-treaded rookie crashing into people, reminds me of Petrov last year.
What moves???? It hasn't been banned because it's not a moveable device. In my opinion, the FIA opened this can of worms when they allowed the front wing adjustment and now the DRS. Mercedes is the first to jump on it. I don't know what the rule is but it's also not driver controlled as they use it only when the DRS is used, which is allowed. Your argument means nothing and the final ruling is judgemental(like the mass damper). And that is a debate for a different day as we know how inconsistent the FIA is. If this was Ferrari you would have said it was legal, but because MS drives the car your arguing this. Getting to the point where your constant trolling about Merc and MS is getting obnoxious. You need to get over your middle school like grudge and get real(like not having MS in the top 7 of quali in the other thread). Your becoming laughable. Alex
LOL ^ But yeah, nothing moves. I'm seriously cross-eyed thinking about anyone calling this a moveable device when the device itself is a pipe for crying out loud. It's 'activated' by a device the FIA mandated TO move. If it's anyone's fault, it's the FIA's in not saying there can be no secondary activated inert devices from the mandated moving part. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Easy man, it isn't a crime to dislike a team or driver, where a excellent ex Ferrari driver, now drives against the horse..... is it.
Agreed. If they want to clean up the rules they should do it next year. All Ross did was follow the rules as they are now.
You are 100% right on that one. As Blick's Benoit has mentioned several times in the past: MS can do no wrong in the stewards' eyes.
