Coming into the Monaco Grand Prix, there was some confidence at Haas that the workforce may put in a superb efficiency. Within the workforce’s media preview, Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu famous that Haas “ … has labored fairly effectively within the wind tunnel to provide you with the Monaco downforce degree required, which is completely different from earlier years.” With each Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg advancing to Q2 and qualifying within the high 15 on Saturday, it regarded as if these efforts had paid off.
However the Haas duo is not going to be beginning there tomorrow. As an alternative each drivers had been disqualified from qualifying following post-qualifying inspections, and will probably be beginning on pit lane because of a dispensation from Method 1 race officers.
Right here is why they had been disqualified, and why they’re nonetheless within the discipline beginning on pit lane.
What did Haas do improper?
Following qualifying, the workforce of FIA Technical Delegates carried out their commonplace post-event inspections of varied automobiles within the discipline. These inspections included a examine on the rear wing of varied automobiles, together with Hülkenberg’s #27 automobile, and Magnussen’s #20 automobile.
As famous by Jo Bauer, the FIA Technical Delegate of their P3 and Qualifying Scrutineering Report — Doc 39, out there right here — each Haas automobiles failed the rear wing inspection.
In a subsequent Technical Delegate’s Report Bauer famous that each Magnussen’s automobile and Hülkenberg’s automobile weren’t in compliance with FIA Technical Laws, particularly Technical Regulation Article 3.10.10 h). As famous on this subsequent report:
“The uppermost rear wing component adjustable positions had been checked on automobile numbers 20 and 27. The LHS and RHS outermost space of the of the adjustable components had been exceeding the utmost allowed 85mm on each automobiles. As this isn’t in compliance with TR Article 3.10.10 h), I’m referring this matter to the stewards for his or her consideration.”
Workforce representatives had been summoned to fulfill with race officers, and a listening to was carried out into the matter.
Following the listening to, race officers disqualified each Magnussen and Hülkenberg from qualifying. Within the determination reviews, race stewards famous that in accordance with the Haas workforce consultant, the non-compliance was as a result of a track-specific change within the rear wing for each automobiles made upfront of the Monaco Grand Prix:
“The workforce defined that this was the consequence of an inadvertent error on their half in setting the wing flap hole. The wing used was a brand new design that was used for the primary time in Monaco. The outdated design was set to be compliant with the rules with the most important hole measured from the centre of the wing. Underneath the brand new design, the most important hole was on the extremities of the wing however the workforce had not skilled its mechanics to set the hole per the brand new design, ensuing within the non-compliance.”
Whereas the workforce pleaded for leniency, arguing that they didn’t acquire a aggressive benefit as a result of non-compliance, race officers famous that below Article 1.3.3 of the Worldwide Sporting Code, the matter of whether or not a aggressive benefit was gained is irrelevant.
Consequently, each drivers had been disqualified from qualifying.
However they may nonetheless be within the discipline tomorrow.
F1 and the 107% rule
Having been disqualified, each Magnussen and Hülkenberg thereby did not set a time throughout qualifying.
Nevertheless, even with that truth there may be nonetheless a mechanism for each drivers to be within the discipline, and this comes down to what’s known as the “107% rule” in F1.
Underneath this rule, drivers that fail to put up a time inside 107 % of the quickest time posted in Q1 is not going to be allowed to take part within the race, absent dispensation from race officers. The primary motive for this rule? Security. If a automobile can not put up a ample time throughout qualifying, there’s a likelihood that automobile may pose a hazard throughout a Grand Prix.
Nevertheless, below Article 39.4 of the Sporting Laws, race officers are permitted to permit groups that fail the “107% rule” to begin a race. Particularly with respect to Haas, “[t]he participation of unclassified drivers within the the rest of the Competitors will probably be decided in every case by the Stewards, who might exceptionally take into account parameters reminiscent of: An appropriate lap time being set in one other follow session.”
Following each Magnussen and Hülkenberg being disqualified, the workforce requested permission for each drivers to be within the discipline. That request was granted by race officers, who famous of their selections that each Magnussen and Hülkenberg “set passable instances in follow at this Occasion.”
Now it comes right down to math.
The highest time in Q1 was 1:11.584, set by Charles Leclerc. That signifies that for a passable time below the “107% rule” each Haas drivers would wish to have posted a lap time that was quicker than 1:16.595. To calculate the required time below the “107% rule” you exchange the quickest Q1 time into seconds, after which multiply it by 1.07. On this instance, Leclerc’s 1:11.584 units a “107% rule” mark of 1.16.595.
(When you have made it this far, you would possibly benefit from the “F1 Glossary” we’ve for you.
Returning to this weekend, throughout P3 Saturday at Monaco, each Haas drivers had been effectively below that mark, with Magnussen posting a 1:12.216 and Hülkenberg a 1:12.192.
That allowed race officers the latitude to place each drivers within the discipline, regardless of not setting a time in qualifying as a result of being disqualified. Nevertheless, below the Sporting Laws they may begin Sunday from pit lane.
With a troublesome activity forward of them, making an attempt to choose up locations on the tight Monaco streets.
