The FIA has all-but cleared the Mercedes’ Dual Axis Steering system for 2020 F1 season but they quietly made a change for 2021 which prevents it from being used.
The second day of F1 pre-season testing at Barcelona caused a big headline when onboard cameras in Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes caught a forward/backward movement of the steering wheel as opposed to the normal rotation movement.
The forward movement happened on the straights while it got back to its position in the corners. This change accompanied with slight movement of the suspension/tyres as well. It is unclear on how much gain Mercedes can make through it but every tenth counts.
If it helps in keeping the tyres warm, it will be beneficial. The question regarding legality of it were more or less answered by the FIA but fortunately/unfortunately, it cannot be changed for 2020. They have, however, quietly brought the change for F1 2021.
The 2020 regulations under ‘Steering’ has four points, which is same for 2021, but they have added a new point which disregards DAS-like feature. It is almost as if, the FIA understood the game played by Mercedes and so they added the change.
Unfortunately for the Mercedes’ rivals, the FIA could not bring the change in the 2020 regulations. As mentioned above, the regulations for F1 2020 under Steering has four points which goes:
10.4 Steering:
- 10.4.1 Any steering system which permits the re-alignment of more than two wheels is not permitted.
- 10.4.2 Power assisted steering systems may not be electronically controlled or electrically powered. No such system may carry out any function other than reduce the physical effort required to steer the car.
- 10.4.3 No part of the steering wheel or column, nor any part fitted to them, may be closer to the driver than a plane formed by the entire rear edge of the steering wheel rim. All parts fixed to the steering wheel must be fitted in such a way as to minimise the risk of injury in the event of a driver’s head making contact with any part of the wheel assembly.
- 10.4.4 The steering wheel, steering column and steering rack assembly must pass an impact test, details of the test procedure may be found in Article 16.5.
The changed rule from FIA for 2021 goes:
10.5 Steering:
- 10.5.1 The steering system is the mechanical system, on and part of the sprung mass, that converts the steering column demand into the outboard suspension position control for the re-alignment of only the two front wheels (the steered wheels).
- 10.5.2 The re-alignment of the steered wheels, as defined by the position of the inboard attachment of the relevant suspensions members that remain a fixed distance from each other, must be uniquely defined by a monotonic function of the rotational position of a single steering wheel.
- 10.5.3 Power assisted steering systems may not be electronically controlled or electrically powered. No such system may carry out any function other than reduce the physical effort required to steer the car.
- 10.5.4 No part of the steering wheel or column, nor any part fitted to them, may be closer to the driver than a plane formed by the entire rear edge of the steering wheel rim. All parts fixed to the steering wheel must be fitted in such a way as to minimise the risk of injury in the event of a driver’s head making contact with any part of the wheel assembly.
- 10.5.5 The steering wheel, steering column and steering rack assembly must pass an impact test, details of the test procedure may be found in Article 13.8.
As per FIA Article 10.5.2 of the 2021 regulations, a steering wheel can only affect the suspension members when moved in a rotational manner. Therefore, the DAS system, which operates the toe using a telescoping effect, will be unusable from 2021 onward.
However, such a rule is not in the 2020 regulations. This means that for the upcoming season, Mercedes should be able to continue to utilise their DAS system. While it looks like the system is legal to be used but there is still another block under Parc Ferme rules.
It is unclear but while the suspension cannot be changed under parc ferme – as Article 34.6 explains – Mercedes may get away with it on account of the fact that they are using a steering system to do it, and the article does not apply to the steering system.
The Article 34.6 from 2020 FIA regulations goes as:
A competitor may not modify any part on the car or make changes to the set-up of the
suspension whilst the car is being held under parc fermé conditions. In the case of a breach of this Article the relevant driver must start the race from the pit lane and follow the procedures laid out in Article 36.2.
In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the suspension systems or aerodynamic configuration of the car (with the exception of the front wing) whilst in pre-race parc ferme, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without the use of tools.
It looks like Mercedes could be successful in exploiting a loophole in FIA regulations for 2020 but as mentioned above, they won’t get away with it in 2021. Not only they have altered the steering rule in Article 10.5 but they have changed the Parc Ferme rule too.
The changed Article 5.4.7 from 2021 FIA regulations goes:
A competitor may not modify any part on the car or make changes to the set-up of the
suspension whilst the car is being held under parc fermé conditions. In the case of a breach of this Article the relevant driver must start the race from the pit lane and follow the procedures laid out in Article 4.8.2.
In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the suspension systems or aerodynamic configuration of the car (with the exception of the front wing) whilst in pre-race parc ferme, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without the use of tools.
Here’s what James Allison and Lewis Hamilton said about DAS
Here’s Ross Brawn on closing off loopholes in 2021
Here’s the details from first F1 test
Additional input from Duncan Leahy