FIA bans Mercedes-DAS for 2021

The FIA ​​World Council decided by electronic vote to take a few measures in Formula 1 – especially with regard to the corona virus.

Now it’s official: Mercedes will no longer be able to use its DAS steering wheel trick from 2021. In 2021, the same cars are to be used as in 2020. This was announced by the FIA. You can read more about the background of the technical coup HERE.

The FIA ​​World Council met virtually, and the vote’s carried out electronically. 

The FIA ​​responded to the virus by deciding further measures, some of which President Jean Todt personally delegated more decision-making powers: changes to the rules now only require the approval of 60 percent of the teams (six out of ten), and the calendar can even be changed without a vote. 

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto had already announced that special flexibility was needed at this point. No one can say today what the Formula 1 2020 calendar will really look like. 

In addition, the manufacturers have not been allowed to develop Formula 1 cars for 2022 since last Sunday, March 29th. Then the new technical regulations come into effect, which has already been postponed by a year. This rule is intended to save costs for parallel development. 

In addition, the shutdown now applies to the motor factories of Mercedes, Honda, Ferrari, and Renault. So far, the summer break, which was brought forward because of the current crisis, only affected the chassis factories.

Depending on how many races will take place in 2020, the number of permitted drive units per car and season is also reduced. The test rules can also be adapted without much effort.

Translated by David Schneider