Chinese Grand Prix 2013: No penalties for DRS infringement

None of the eight drivers suspected of using DRS under yellow flags at the 2013 Chinese GP will be penalised - but Red Bull is fined for unsafe release.
14.04.2013- Race, Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB9
14.04.2013- Race, Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB9
© PHOTO 4

Race stewards havᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe decided not to take any further action on the eight drivers suspected of using DRS under yellow flag conditions ꦚduring the 2013 F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday.

Sebastian Vettel, Mark🌞 Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Riccardo, Jenson Button, Romain Grosjean and Max Chilton were all told that they would have to explain their use of the overtaking assist system after the race was over, and duly trooped off to the stewards office after the chequered flag.

Bu♚t when the stewards reviewed the multiple incidents, they conceded that there had been a "degree of confusion" relating to the FIA's telemetry system, which has been hit by a series of problems since a new supplier took over provision o𒆙f the service at the start of the season.

The system was once again partially disabled in China, which mean🐼t that the race officials couldn't centr🐭ally control the use of DRS by cars in the race as had been the case in previous seasons.

Moreover, there had been a delay of around a minute before drivers were informed via🧜 their steering wheel display unit about the deployment of yellow flags around the circuit, meaning that there was no way to be sure exactly what drivers had known at the time of any of the incidents being investigated.

In any case, t🅘he actual DRS use by the drivers took place along the main straight where a green light was displaไyed at the time, the stewards' ruling further noted.

The sheer number of drivers cited for illegal use of DRS under yellow was further evidence of how confused the💫 situation was and how the drivers were likely not to blame for what ensued, the stewards concluded.

After the stewards' ruling, the race results for the third outing of 2013 will now🌼 sta🌸nd unchanged.

Earlier, the stewards handed penalties to Red Bull's Mark Webber and Sauber's Esteban Guti?rrez for causing avoidable collisions during the race. As neither driver finished the Chinese GP, their penalties will take the form of multi-place grid spot drops to be served next weekend in Bahrain. (168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:See separate story.)

However, the stewards did have one final ruling to issue after they deemed Red Bull to be guilty of the unsafe release of Mark Webber's car from the pit lane, with the right rear wheel🙈 not securely attached. The wheel came off the car before Webber could return to pit lane on lap 16 to have it attended to, the🎃 tyre then bouncing across the track right in front of oncoming traffic. Fortunately it did so without making contact with any of the cars.

"After changing the nose and all four tyres, Mark reported a problem with the right rear on the out lap, which had certainly left the pit lane fully torqued up," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had insisted earlier. "The right rear then came detached from the car and caused M🌳ark to retire. Until we get the car back, it's not possible to yet conclude the exact cause."

Pressed as to whether the problem might have been down to 'finger trouble' on the ♍part of the pit crew member fitting the wheel, Horner said: "The report from the gunman who obviously had extra time because it was not a hasty time due to nose change was that certainly the right rear was secure and done up tightly."

The race stewards rul꧒ed that the tyre problem had been down to the team and fined Red Bu൩ll 5000 euros.

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