- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Lotus
Raikkonen excluded from qualifying
Kimi Raikkonen has been excluded from qualifying after his Lotus car failed a front floor deflection test after the session. Raikkonen, who had qualified fifth, will be allowed to start from the back of the grid.
Lotus argued that the floor broke after contact with a kerb, but the stewards believed the impact did not constitute an "accident" and therefore was not a valid excuse for failing the test. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lotus successfully argued that a failed floor deflection test was due to accident damage, but in this case the excuse was not accepted.
"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]," read the original report from FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.
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.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
