Kimi Raikkonen has been excluded from the qualifying session which was played on Saturday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after his car did not pass the test of flexibility of the flat bottom. Thus, the Finn will start from the last position in the race on Sunday and will have the option to start from the pitlane.
There was a similar problem in Hungary with Romain Grosjean, but the commissioners at that time said that the flat bottom of the car of the French was damaged. However, this time, the circumstances were different, and the car has failed to fulfill the regulations.
“Car number 07 did not comply with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations as the front floor deflected more than 5mm vertically when the load was applied vertically to it at the point which lies 100mm of car centre line on the LHS,” said a technical report by the FIA’s Formula One technical delegate Jo Bauer.
If Lotus cannot provide a valid reason for Raikkonen’s car failing the test, the Finn faces a grid penalty.