- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Lotus
Raikkonen's car fails floor flex test
Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus has failed a front floor deflection test after qualifying for the Abu Dhabi, with the issue being referred to the stewards for further investigation.
A floor deflection test was carried out on Raikkonen's car and Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber after the session and the Lotus was found to have failed when the front part of the floor flexed more than 5mm vertically during a test on the left-hand side.
Lotus team representatives have been called to the stewards to explain the flex with Raikkonen's fifth-place grid position potentially at risk.
"After the qualifying session an asymmetric LHS front floor deflection test was carried [out] on car numbers 07 and 11 according to Article 3.17.5," read a report from FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer. "Car number 11 was found in conformity with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
"However car number 07 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 the car centre line on the LHS [left-hand side]."
The rules surrounding floor flexibility have been tightened in recent years to stop teams gaining an aerodynamic advantage by running cars lower at the front. Under the regulations the floor cannot flex more than 5mm when 2000 Newtons of force are applied to it from below.
However, if Lotus' representatives can prove that the flexing was due to damage then a penalty may not be applied. Romain Grosjean's car failed a floor deflection test at the Hungarian Grand Prix this year due to damage and he was not penalised.
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