Hamilton rejects “DAS 2” theories of steering wheel movements

Competitor Red Bull is interested in the way the rear of the Mercedes drops at high speed, helping to stop the diffuser and reduce traction and traction.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit believes this behavior has been a critical step forward in Mercedes direct speed over the last few races.

Amid an extra look at Mercedes’s rear wings at the Brazilian GP, ​​where Max Verstappen was highlighted when he touched a Hamilton car at the Parc farm, the situation took a new turn when a video of the W12 car’s strange behavior was shown from the start. – board camera

The video filmed earlier this weekend seemed to show Hamilton retreating from his steering wheel as he approached the first bend.

This led to theories that Hamilton could use some new “DAS” format to possibly change the car’s driving height.

In 2020, Mercedes legally used the DAS system to adjust the tip angle of the front wheels, which helped it better control tire temperatures and even reduce direct resistance. This was done by the drivers pushing and pulling the wheel.

However, in order to avoid a war of money for teams following Mercedes’ example, it was agreed that DAS combined with front wheels would be banned for this season.

However, speaking before the Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton made it clear that Mercedes didn’t play with some sort of “DAS 2” system.

Instead, he explained that what was seen on the ship was simply extra play on the steering column, which he didn’t actually like, and he was changed.

“My steering column doesn’t move forward and backward, it just moves [left and right], “he said.” We had it last year, we don’t have it now.

“I thought it was a bit of a game on Saturday, but it’s probably less than a millimeter, which I don’t like, and then there was no game. So you’re not sure what you’re looking at. “

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes at a press conference

By Andy Hone / Motorsport pictures

Under the new rules introduced for this year, the angle of the front wheel can only be adjusted with the steering wheel turning left and right.

This meant that Mercedes design actions that changed the angle of the toes pushing the drivers and pulling the wheel were no longer allowed.

The new section 10.4.2 of the revised Technical Regulations 2021 states: “The reorientation of the steered wheels shall be unambiguously determined by the monotonic function of rotation of one steering wheel about one axle.

“In addition, the internal points of attachment of the suspension components connected to the steering system must remain at a fixed distance from each other and may only move in a direction normal to the center plane of the car.”