Romain Grosjean could lose his third place on the grid after his Lotus failed a post-qualifying inspection.
The floor of the E21 was found to move too much under when a load was applied to it.
FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said in a statement: “After the qualifying practice session an asymmetric [right-hand side] front floor deflection test was carried on car numbers one, eight and ten according to Article 3.17.5.”
“Car numbers one and ten were found in conformity with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
“However car number eight did not comply with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations as the front floor deflected more than 5mm vertically when the load was applied vertically to it at the point which lies 100mm of car centre line on the [right-hand side].
“I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
Failing a technical inspection after qualifying normally leads to the driver in question being excluding from the results and having to start the race from the back of the grid.
Update: Grosjean escapes penalty for failing floor test
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Image © Lotus/LAT
Manished
27th July 2013, 17:57
So kimi was actually running an old floor??
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th July 2013, 18:01
I expect that’s one of many possible explanations. For example, Grosjean’s could have been damaged.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th July 2013, 18:54
Sure enough Grosjean and Raikkonen’s cars had the same part, as explained here:
Grosjean escapes penalty for failing floor test
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:08
Nice treatment there to their ” No.1 driver “
Patrickl (@patrickl)
27th July 2013, 18:18
Sometimes new is not better. Remember 2008 when the new Ferrari didn’t work at all for Kimi. Up to that point he was in contention for the title even after being rammed out of the Canadian GP by Hamilton. Took them 5 or 6 races before they decided to go back to the old specs.
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:33
its not the first time, Romain got new front wing in shanghai first. Same as Silverstone where he got new slim rear bodywork first.
Joshua Mesh (@joshua-mesh)
27th July 2013, 18:28
It could have been a test to see if they could get away with it.
henri200 (@henri200)
27th July 2013, 18:24
Only TOP3 of the qualy had this test.
brny666
27th July 2013, 18:39
Kimis car was not tested….
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
27th July 2013, 17:58
Are only the top three qualifiers subjected to these checks?
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:00
nope. all cars were checked. but the top 3 would be the last of them all.
Umar Majid (@um1234)
27th July 2013, 18:00
Either a 5 place grid penalty or goes to the back of the grid for Romain. There goes my prediction out of the window
Enigma (@enigma)
27th July 2013, 18:20
@um1234 If his car doesn’t comply with the regulations there won’t be a grid penalty, he’ll be excluded from qualifying.
Umar Majid (@um1234)
27th July 2013, 18:34
he can start from the back of the grid or the pit lane…
Enigma (@enigma)
27th July 2013, 18:39
@um1234 Yes. I’m just saying he can’t get a grid penalty – he either keeps 3rd or is disqualified from the results, nothing in between.
Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum)
27th July 2013, 18:01
To be fair They should check Kimi’s car also. Poor Grosjean, from alternator failures to this.
Umar Majid (@um1234)
27th July 2013, 18:02
they check everyones cars.
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:03
they did. top 3 cars were the last of them all to be checked.
Bosley (@)
27th July 2013, 18:02
Interesting to see that only the top 3 failed the scrutineering.
Perhaps that was their edge over the competition.
I joke of course, I doubt it made much difference at all.
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:04
different fia officers were allocated to check it. This particular one checked on top 3 cars. hence he only mentioned car 1, 10 ,8
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
27th July 2013, 18:08
“Interesting to see that only the top 3 failed the scrutineering.”
Only GRO failed it
“Car numbers one and ten were found in conformity with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
Umar Majid (@um1234)
27th July 2013, 18:03
*** Lotus always making these stupid little mistakes. what a let down. if vettel leads into the first corner its race over
Lari (@lari)
27th July 2013, 18:05
There goes the “Only Kimi gets new parts” -lines hopefully for good.
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:07
thats bs.
More often than not romain has got the new part first last year. Ted Kravitz had it covered last year in his notebook.
In china gp, romain got new front wing first. In silverstone, romain got new bodywork first.
anon
27th July 2013, 18:48
Kimi also had an upgraded car in Silverstone, but he was running a different upgrade package. Kimi has what Lotus term their “drag reduction device” (a passively activated rear wing stalling device) fitted to his car, with Grosjean used as a benchmark to see whether the DRD was more or less effective than the standard car.
Tom (@newdecade)
27th July 2013, 18:09
There seem to have been an unusually high number of exclusions from quali this year, is it true due to increased testing standards or am I just imagining it?
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
27th July 2013, 18:10
Well this is a serious matter because we all know from watching the practice sessions in the last 3 races Lotus has been sparking over the kerbs like mad, perhaps we should keep a closer eye on them from now on.
Joshua Mesh (@joshua-mesh)
27th July 2013, 18:34
In all likely hood this floor is a new version that pushed the envelope in terms of flexing. Kimi never failed his cars test.
Alternatively, the floor could have:
• Broken and thus flexed more than intended
• Worn out and become more flexible over time.
• Flexed more when warm. Maybe the top 3 check happens sooner than the normal test, catching Lotus out?
tmekt (@tmekt)
27th July 2013, 18:15
There’s nothing unfair or unlucky about this, cars have to comply within the technical regulations and if they fail to do so they should be excluded regardless of the amount of benefit (if any) gotten.
cg22me (@cg22me)
27th July 2013, 18:27
I fear it might be this sort of event that’ll kill Grosjean’s confidence again, after what seemed like a decent resurgence from the dude :(
Atticus (@atticus-2)
27th July 2013, 18:32
Nooo, pleeeease, noo, I was soo glad that Alonso and Massa both secured a good position on the clean side of the grid! Now both would suffer big time from the dusty spots.
No, I just said to myself following the checkered flag that just no penalties on the front. Here it comes.
Raikkonen will be by in a blast.
OK, Vettel is literally one step closer, but it may still be diadvantegous with the dirty side.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
27th July 2013, 18:33
For his benefit I hope it was merely a damage-induced failure and that it simply requires that the component be replaced. Otherwise, seriously bad luck for Grosjean.
Manished
27th July 2013, 18:35
Maybe thats the reason he was doing so well compared to his teammate that running old floor was fighting his car all weekend with a few rally stunts.
Merv (@)
27th July 2013, 18:40
BBC highlights just announced no penalty for Grosjean, they must have successfully argued accident (curb) damage.
Rigi (@rigi)
27th July 2013, 18:46
this is outrageous, he finally found some confidence and was doing so well… goddamnit!
Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
27th July 2013, 18:51
What does this mean for Fernando ALonso? Now he is starting from the dirty side of the track, although the Ferrari is quick at starts, maybe the quickest.
Merv (@)
27th July 2013, 18:58
Nothing, see my previous post and the latest story at the top of f1fanatic.
Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
27th July 2013, 19:10
Oh, but thats actually positive for senor Alonso, isn’t it(?), since that 5th grid position can make massive difference in traction.
Am i wrong if I predict that ALonso can be in 3rd position after lap 1 tomorrow?? =)
Merv (@)
27th July 2013, 19:56
Anything is possible.