DBMotorsport

  Abstract The 2024 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas was marked by two infringements involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. On the first lap, an early breach of the Sporting regulations between the two at Turn 1 went unpunished, while a subsequent violation at lap 52 saw Norris penalized for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. These two similar scenarios have sparked debate about the consistency of the FIA's decision making. Why did the stewards decide to overlook one offence and penalise another in almost identical circumstances? The First-Lap Infringement Tension was high right from the start of the 2024 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, two of the top contenders on the grid, battled for position. As the lights went out, Norris made a strong start and moved up alongside Verstappen as they headed into the infamous Turn 1 - a wide, uphill left-hander known for its potential to cause chaos...

  Abstract Innovation and creativity are the backbone of Formula One, but they often walk a fine line between ingenuity and controversy. Red Bull's recently leaked system for modifying the height of the T-tray (a critical aerodynamic component at the front of the car) has sparked widespread debate. Much like the "flexi-wing" saga, this innovation exploits grey areas in the regulations, raising concerns about fairness and regulatory oversight. Despite clear rules regarding aerodynamic elements and “Parc fermé”, Red Bull's T-tray modification system has once again put the spotlight on how much room for interpretation teams have and how far they are willing to push the boundaries. What is the T-Tray? The T-tray, also known as the “tea tray” or the “bib”, is a horizontal plank under the front of car that plays a pivotal role in managing airflow beneath the chassis. As a mandatory component per FIA regulations, its primary function is to regulate the car’s ground clearan...

  Abstract Flexibility is often seen as a positive factor in human behaviour, but sometimes it can also be seen as a problem. Formula One teams are always looking for grey areas to exploit and, in this case, they find it in the wings regulations. From TD018 to TD034G, the FIA has made many improvements to mitigate the problem, but no action has been taken, even though the F1 Technical Regulations were already clear on the subject.                McLaren's rear wing - Source: Getty         What are Flexi-wings? One of the fundamental issues with this generation of F1 cars has to do with the flexibility of the wings. This part of the car has always been exploited as much as possible by the engineers and aerodynamicists, considering the key role they play in creating good aerodynamics and balance of the car. The technical development of composite materials has also contributed to the creation of materials with specifi...

  Abstract The most discussed topic of this F1 summer break is absolutely related to art.11.1.2 of the F1 technical regulation and the asymmetric braking system that Red Bull probably used until the Miami Gp. Let's delve into the subject and understand the rule and the device used by the most dominant team in the last two championships. The mystery Behind article 11.1.2 In its early stages, Formula One was a really simple sport, due to the lack of rules and resources available to the various competitors. For example, the name Formula itself comes from the basic formula (considered as a basic set of rules accepted by all competitors) to regulate the construction of the various cars. As time went on, the teams became more and more technologically advanced and were able to find any kind of shortcut in the rules to gain an advantage over other competitors. For this reason, the rules became more and more complex in order to limit this situation, and today the technical regulations a...

  Abstract One of the most exciting moments of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was the incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The FIA Stewards' Commission decided to take no further action, but is this the right decision? The incident and the FIA’ s decision The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix will be a race to remember in F1 history for several reasons: Team orders, spectacle, overtaking and Oscar Piastri's first win. However, one of the most important moments of the race was undoubtedly the collision between Max Verstappen (car no. 1) and Lewis Hamilton (car no. 44), which took place in the first corner of the circuit, on lap 63 of 70. The incident was immediately noted by the stewards with documents no. 37 and no. 38, which summoned both drivers after the race for clarification. The final decision was made with document no. 42, which, after a brief analysis of what had happened and what the two drivers thought of the incident, stated: “ Accordingly we determine ...