F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Mercedes innovative DAS device banned for 2021

Mercedes' innovative Dual Axis System has been outlawed by the FIA for 2021, a move destined to protect F1 teams from a costly investment at a time of crisis for the sport.

The decision was approved by the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday along with a raft of emergency measures justified by the global coronavirus pandemic and its financial impact on F1.

Among the rule changes for next season is the obligation for teams to carry over to next year their 2020 chassis designs, a decision that could have potentially allowed Mercedes to keep its DAS advantage.

The system, which allows drivers to tweak the toe angle of a car's front wheels, is an intricate part of the front suspension of the Silver Arrow W11.

However, Mercedes accepted not to fight the regulation change which bans its DAS.

"The re-alignment of the steered wheels must be uniquely defined by a monotonic function of the rotation of a single steering wheel about a single axis," stipulates the new article in the revised 2021 technical regulations.

"Furthermore, the inboard attachment points of the suspensions members connected to the steering system must remain a fixed distance from each other and can only translate in the direction normal to the car centre plane."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Hamilton mentally and physically ‘back to my best’ after China podium

Under the afternoon sun and the roar of the grandstands at the Shanghai International Circuit,…

35 mins ago

Antonelli admits to ‘heart attack’ moment on way to first F1 win

In a race that will be etched in Formula 1 history, Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli…

1 hour ago

McLaren drivers reveal electrical issues that thwarted Chinese GP

There was deep frustration – and a sense of concern – inside the McLaren garage…

2 hours ago

Chinese GP: Antonelli gets it done, for Mercedes and Italy!

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix delivered a historic changing of the guard as 19-year-old Kimi…

3 hours ago

Chinese Grand Prix - Race results

Full race results from the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai, round 2 of the 2026…

3 hours ago

Pre-race chaos wipes out McLaren’s Chinese GP before lights out!

The Chinese Grand Prix was thrown into chaos before a single light turned green on…

5 hours ago