The FIA will continue not to operate a telemetry link to the cars during this weekend’s race due to ongoing problems with the system.
Problems with the system since the beginning of the season have prevented from the FIA from operating it.
As in previous races, the FIA will be unable to automatically disable DRS when necessary, drivers will not receive warning message via the cockpit lights and teams will not receive automatic blue flag warnings.
2013 Bahrain Grand Prix
- 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- Vettel wins Bahrain Driver of the Weekend poll
- Bahrain was an “aberration”, says Vergne
- Karthikeyan (no, not that one) takes Predictions win
- Top ten pictures from the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix
Image © Red Bull/Getty
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
21st April 2013, 11:48
F1, the pinnacle of motorsport.
DC (@dujedcv)
21st April 2013, 15:19
I think that F1 should be ruled by the communists. That way there would be no problems with such things
Stretch (@stretch)
21st April 2013, 11:51
This again perhaps? http://goo.gl/AVpLN
jh1806 (@jh1806)
21st April 2013, 11:53
Haha, like it. Seriously though, this is just a joke now.
cg22me (@cg22me)
21st April 2013, 11:54
I recon all the drivers should make a pact to break the rules this race.
But Caterham and Marussia make a deal to be good boys behind their back, so everyone else will get disqualified and those two teams can get podiums and a win :P
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
21st April 2013, 12:17
Why? That’s not going to fix it any sooner. And the drivers have gone for three races without it, so it’s really not that big a problem.
Atticus (@atticus-2)
21st April 2013, 11:53
I am seriously embarrassed by their inability to resolve the issue in, what, 5 weeks now.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
21st April 2013, 11:53
So will drivers be allowed to use DRS under yellow flags again?
Hotbottoms (@hotbottoms)
21st April 2013, 12:01
Yes, if marshalls show them a green flag…
timi (@timi)
21st April 2013, 11:55
That’s 4 races now, and they were having problems with it during testing. With all the money the FIA has, I hope they’ve been investigating new telemetry systems to implement instead of trying to fix what looks like a permanently broken one.
Drivers have now accidentally broken the rules in 3 of the last 4 races due to this broken link. Not goood enough FIA, not good enough.
Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum)
21st April 2013, 11:57
who supplies telemetry @keithcollantine Hope it isnt Tata Communications.
Joshua Mesh (@joshua-mesh)
21st April 2013, 11:58
If I understand correctly, its an issue with the new ECU provided by Mclaren.
Solo (@solo)
21st April 2013, 20:45
Joshua there is a limit to how oblivious you can be.
DC (@dujedcv)
21st April 2013, 15:22
Most likely Apple
Joshua Mesh (@joshua-mesh)
21st April 2013, 11:59
I wish they told us what the exact issue is. I cant help but think its a security issue.
Aish Heydrich (@aish)
21st April 2013, 14:29
I wish they told us what the exact issue is. I CAN help.
Hotbottoms (@hotbottoms)
21st April 2013, 12:02
How is this possible? I mean, even if there has been some major update for this season that isn’t working, can’t they just go back to the system that was used last year?
Joshua Mesh (@joshua-mesh)
21st April 2013, 14:52
I guess they could take out the 2014 spec ECU and put in the 2012 one.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
21st April 2013, 12:19
This is now just embarrassing. One race was bad enough although understandable, but four? They need to get their act together and get it sorted so we can avoid yet more farces like those of last week where cars where 8 drivers were under investigation for a rule infringement primarily caused by the FIA’s incompetence.
William (@william)
21st April 2013, 12:24
Again and it will continue. I hope the people who use DRS in a yellow flag zone get penalised as the teams should tell them about this. By the way TEN Sport Alan Jones will be a steward for the Spanish Grand Prix
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
21st April 2013, 12:40
@william
That’s the thing though: last week they were using it in a green flag zone but there was supposed to be a track-wide ban. The FIA failed to get the message to the teams quickly enough, so we can hardly blame the drivers or the teams.
If the telemetry link just worked though, it would’ve been a non-issue!
Pete (@repete86)
21st April 2013, 12:28
Apparently cars aren’t the only thing that McLaren forgot how to build this season…
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
21st April 2013, 14:09
How come FIA cannot fix this in time?? it can’t be that much of a problem for an organization as powerful and rich as FIA !
Aish Heydrich (@aish)
21st April 2013, 14:31
What are they using Windows 98? DOS?
GT_Racer
21st April 2013, 16:11
For the record, The problem isn’t been caused by the new ECU, Its the equipment which sends the data from the FIA to the teams/cars.
There using all new equipment/software from a new supplier for this year & its proved unreliable. I gather than some parts of the system have worked & others have not.
I gather the GPS system which has been one of the things that have worked so far suffered some intermittent problems this weekend.
Im hearing that they may be working a deal to bring the old systems back for Spain although the new stuff may be taken there as well in order to continue figuring it all out.
Fisha695 (@fisha695)
21st April 2013, 17:44
My conspiracy theory is that the FIA are doing this on purpose to ween the drivers off of these “nanny aids” for 2014.
Joe Papp (@joepa)
23rd April 2013, 5:18
@keithcollantine – this story is crying out for some proper reporting. Will you tackle it? We need to know why this issue is on-going, what the actual technical failure is, who’s to blame and who’s in-charge of fixing it and what their plan is to rectify the situation. Lmk if you need any help working on it or chasing down leads!