In the race Alonso's DRS was activated when it shouldn't have been possible to do so. Still not sure why it happened, but the FIA are supposed to be controlling this, so that the DRS could only be used in the activation zone. The implications of what happened are worrying. If the DRS had been activated in the middle of a high speed corner, the driver would have gone straight off the track and couldn't have done much to prevent a big crash. The FIA need to investigate this matter immediately and find out what went wrong, so that next time this sort of thing can be prevented. Also I was disgusted to read other people's views on the incident, and to see comments questioning why he hadn't gotten a penalty. It was clear that no advantage was gained, and more importantly, the driver's safety could be at risk again if the FIA cannot find out why Alonso's DRS was activated. Some people are saying it's a one-off technical glitch, and I hope this is the case, but doubt this is true. I also saw this picture, where it appears that both Alonso and Schumacher had their DRS open: please log in to view this image I think that until a full investigation is completed and the reason for the DRS activation is discovered, the system should not be used. Safety is far more important then an overtaking aid.
Another question would be why did it even open? Wouldn't Alonso have to press something to activate it, surely it doesn't open up when it can regardless? Something somewhere has gone wrong, and like you say it could have caused a crash.
I talked about this before the begining of the season, any moveable device controlled by electronics with maual intervention will go wrong, without doubt, its simply a matter of time before a serious incident occurs because of a malfunction. The bloody thing should be banned before such an occurance.
Is that pic definitely from the race? It could be quali or practice, I don't recall Schumi ever giving anyone that much room in the race.
I don't know when the picture was taken, but it definitely wasn't practice, because Alonso has the old front wing on the car.
The FIA only enable the DRS, the driver has to activate it, so Alonso must have been pushing the button for it to open, or there was an electrical short that triggered it. I doubt any team, even Ferrari, would be daft enough to create an over ride system to gain unfair advantages when it is so visible.
Its not much of an explanation, but the BBC offer something here. Although it doesn't explain how the DRS was 'offset'...
Jose Lorca: Should we wrap Alonso up in cotton wool for you? Just so he can get home to you in one piece. The picture proves nothing. Alonso's DRS doesn't even look open to me. Even if they both had their DRS's open it doesn't matter because for all we know they could be another car just in front of them hence why they both have them open.
I think the DRS is a good system for racing its offering the cars to get closer so we can see more overtaking which was hindered by dirty air. Its not a full on advantage so we also get the spectical of a defence as well. sure its having teething problems but F1 is the perfect enviroment to iron them out.
I think this offset thing means that it didn't activate wehen Alonso pushed his button, but halfway down the 700-odd metre zone. As we know, as soon as the brakes are applied its deactivated and areo preassure closes it. But i think that Alonso had the button pressed still on the straight not knowing it wasn't working. Then, when he put his foot down after the hairpin, it opened late. Like when a computer or video game 'lags' - whatever you do when it lags will pick up after it's sorted itself out. Even as a Mclaren fan, there was no need to give him a penalty anway. I doubt it would give much more speed on the run down to the last corner, and i shouldn't think it affectes acceleration as it does top speed. But what i find quite funny about this DRS thing is that there has sti;ll been more overtakes elsewhere on the track rather than in it's zone. You could say it's getting the cars closer to each other so they eventually pass somewhere else on the track, but other than that it is completley pointless in my opinion.
For me, whats wrong with the driver getting himself into a position to overtake and then for him to take the decision, it commonly known in the trade as skill, some are better than other's at it. Why do they need a device, is it to give the crap drivers a better chance.
personally I think if Sauber got DSQ for 1mm then both Ferraris should be DSQ for fielding a dangerous car. at the end of the day if it fails it should fail in the closed position, anything else is contrary to the rules, you can be sure Ferrari would be waving the rule-book in the air if it happened to Hamilton.
I think first the FIA need to find out the reason why the DRS was "offset" I don't think Ferrari did anything wrong - the FIA control the system and it's use, so the blame for it illegally opening goes to the FIA.
