Confusing situation after just one F1 race
The main topic on the F1 front has been the disqualification of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo following his excellent second position in the Australian Grand Prix.
FILE PICTURE: Daniel Ricciardo Picture: AFP
The stewards deemed that the RB10 had infringed Article 5.1.4 of the Formula One Technical Regulations by exceeding the prescribed fuel flow rate.
Since the race several teams have stated that they were all aware of discrepancies in the readings from the FIA approved fuel flow sensor metering device.
This in itself appears to have been accepted by all the teams during winter testing.
As I wrote last week I am a little concerned that a unit that forms part of the regulations has shown variations in its readings.
I am sure that the FIA are working with the teams to compensate for this particular problem and that they were requesting from lap five of the Grand Prix, that Red Bull reduce the fuel flow on the young Australians car.
This is where I become very confused.
Apparently the stewards had requested that Red Bull apply an offset to compensate for the irregularities in the data from the sensor.
The team decided to use a method preferred by themselves and ignored the FIA instruction and that appears to be the main problem.
I am at a loss to understand why in this age of technology that a measuring device for the delivery of a liquid at a specified rate is so inaccurate and how such a device can form the basis of the implementation of Article 5.1.4.
There have been calls in the media that rather than the driver being penalized it should be the team, as even the official report finds that this infringement was beyond driver control.
I understand the sentiment but cannot agree.
Even though it was beyond his direct control the driver would still benefit as his engine would be developing more power due to the increased fuel flow, therefore providing an unfair advantage.
Red Bull’s appeal will be heard on the 14th April and hopefully we all receive some clarification regarding the method of measuring the fuel delivery rate.
Porsche will certainly be following events as the new LMP1 car from the Stuttgart manufacturer is using the same component.
Just a few more days and we will be able to witness round two of the season and whether teams such as Ferrari and Williams have made progress and will able to take the fight to the Mercedes powered cars.
My guess is that it will take few more races before we see much of a change at the front end of the field.
Hopefully we will not be subjected to more technical failures of critical measuring devices and can see racing, pure and simple.
