"Can't imagine the system being allowed"

In pre-season, Mercedes grabbed the headlines with their new dual-axis system. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were spotted pulling and pushing the steering wheel forwards and backwards. Ever since, the legality of the system has been questioned and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing are set to submit a protest against DAS when the F1 car hits the track. 

In wake of this, Dutch driver Tom Coronel doesn't think the system will be legal. With the brand new DAS system introduced at the silver arrows during the winter tests in Barcelona, ​​Mercedes could once again extend its lead over the competition. The moving steering mechanism increases top speed on the straights without sacrificing downforce when cornering.

The system was immediately discredited. Rival teams call it an illegal system and Christian Horner of Red Bull Racing has indicated he wants to file a complaint. Toto Wolff and Mercedes meanwhile remain convinced that it is allowed. Tom Coronel thinks otherwise.

DAS system allowed? Unimaginable

In conversation with NU.nl, the Dutchman says: “It remains to be seen whether they will benefit from this. Mercedes says the system is allowed, but I can hardly imagine that."

“They entered winter best and came out like this. But you can be the fastest, you also have to be constant and cross the finish line first."

There is little chance that we will get a definite answer about this in Australia this coming weekend. It seems that the Grand Prix will not take place there due to the coronavirus.