Red Bull has formally protested against Mercedes regarding the use of the Dual-Axis Steering system on its W11 at Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix after the second free practice. 

 

The Austrian licensed team has taken the opportunity to find answers after Hamilton and Bottas tried out the controversial technology at the Red Bull Ring on Friday.

 

However, the Mercedes teammates have unveiled DAS for the first time in the world during the pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya earlier this year in February.

 

On-board footage today showed both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas pulling the wheel towards them on the straights, before pushing it away when reaching the corners. They could not hide it any longer, and technical boss James Allison was seemingly happy to confirm its existence – if very little about what it was actually doing.

 

“We have a system in the car that introduces an extra dimension to the steering for the driver that we hope will be useful during the year,” Allison said, avoiding any concerns about the legality of the system which is a "tongues wagging" in the F1 paddock and rival teams soon began to question whether it conforms to the rules and regulations.

 

On Friday evening the FIA summoned representatives from Mercedes after Red Bull protested both Hamilton and Bottas following the conclusion of the second practice session.

 

The claim refers specifically to Articles 3.8 and 10.2.3 of the FIA's F1 rules and Mercedes' use of DAS during Free Practice 2 in Austria.

Article 3.8 relates to aerodynamic influence and states "any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance must comply with the rules relating to bodywork" and "must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom)".

 

In addition, it says: "With the exception of the driver-adjustable bodywork described in Article 3.6.8 (in addition to minimal parts solely associated with its actuation) and the parts described in Articles 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6, any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car".

 

Article 10.2.3, meanwhile, states "no adjustment may be made to any suspension system while the car is in motion".

Mercedes are due to meet the stewards later this evening.