General
Despite the imminent ban, Mercedes wants to further develop the DAS system
- GPblog.com
Mercedes has been driving with the so-called DAS system since this year. The drivers can pull the steering wheel towards them, which changes the position of the front tyres. The system was innovative but is banned for next year. Still Mercedes wants to continue with the development of the technical tour de force.
James Allison, technical director of Mercedes, has informed Motorsport.com that the German team wants to continue the development of the DAS-system. The system was used for the first time during the winter tests in Barcelona in February and helps the drivers to bring the tyres up to temperature, among other things. In addition, it is also beneficial for the tyre wear.
Prohibited fore 2021
Quite soon after the winter tests, other teams asked the FIA questions about the special system. Is the steering wheel allowed to make a different movement than left and right? The German race stable had skilfully circumvented the rules, but to no avail before 2021. From next year on it is forbidden.
This has no influence on the development of the system for the current season: "The system is still new for us" starts Allison. "How we can get the most out of it is not yet clear to us, it is still a voyage of discovery. We are developing the system even further and it is not yet a closed chapter for us, despite the imminent ban. We hope to get even more out of it in the coming races," concludes the technical man of the current world champion.