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Flexi-wings? F1 driver disqualified from Baku GP Qualifying!

19:18, 20 Sep

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byNorberto Mujica

Esteban Ocon has been disqualified from the qualifying results for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon is the same person as ten years ago

The team conceded that the test procedure as outlined in the regulations had been followed and explained that the discrepancy was a result of a problem with the production of the assembly of this specific part.

- FIA Stewards DOC 35

The Haas driver's qualifying session wasn't long, with the Frenchman falling in Q1 placing P18.

Nevertheless post-session inspections by the FIA have spotted a breach with Ocon's Haas VF-25.

According to the FIA's document, the rear wing on the car failed the deflection test, which in other words means it bends too much under load.

The FIA Stewards have determined a disqualification is the appropriate punishment for Ocon's car.

"The Car failed the rear wing main plane tip deflection test," the Steward's decision doc read, due to an "Infringement Breach of Article 3.15.17 of the FIA Technical Regulations - Rear wing main plane tip deflection test.

"The Stewards heard from the team representative of Car 31 and the Haas Head of Car Engineering, plus the FIA Technical Delegate and FIA Deputy Technical Delegate. The driver (Esteban Ocon) was excused from the hearing.

"The FIA representatives described the test procedure used and reported that the distance between the two sections of RV-RW-PROFILES and RV-RW-TIP inboard of Y=525 varied by more than the permitted 0.5mm (0.6mm on the left side and 0.825mm on the right side).

Ocon is DSQ'd from qualifying in Baku

After the calibration of the measuring instrument had been found to be valid, Haas conceeded that the test procedure had been conducted appropriately, but that the issue per se lied on the team's doorstep, describing it as "a result of a problem with the production of the assembly of this specific part."

The Stewards then determined "that the vehicle does not comply with the regulations and hence impose the usual penalty of disqualification from the Qualifying classifications."

Ocon will start the race in P20, moving Pierre Gasly and Alexander up a place.