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• Lotus complained rear wing is illegal
• FAI panel have dismissed their claims
A four-man panel of FIA stewards have dismissed Lotus’ protest against Mercedes’ innovative rear wing. The protest related to the conformity of the Mercedes cars under article 3.15 of the FIA technical regulations, that “any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited”.
Mercedes’ device is incorporated into the DRS, the drag reduction system that assists overtaking at given points on a circuit and is activated by a driver.
The design, which according to the Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, is independent of the DRS, stalls the front and rear wings, providing additional downforce and in turn extra straight-line speed.
Lotus claimed the system was illegal as it makes use of driver movement when the DRS is activated, however, following a lengthy stewards’ meeting at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, it has been declared legal.
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