| Source: adamcooperf1.com | autosport.com |
Kimi Raikkonen has been excluded from qualifying after his car failed a floor deflection test in Abu Dhabi. He will be allowed to start from the back of the grid.
In Hungary a similar thing happened with Romain Grosjean, but the stewards accepted that the floor was damaged.
However this time the circumstances were different – in effect it was not the first time it had happened – and thus the car was deemed to have failed to comply with the regulations.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg is therefore elevated into the top five, while the decision also brings Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso into the top 10 after his poor qualifying result.
In last year’s Abu Dhabi GP, eventual world champion Sebastian Vettel came through from last to third after being excluded from qualifying.
Lotus statement:
“The team respects the Stewards’ decision and will do everything in its power to ensure Kimi and the team gets the best result possible after starting from the back of the grid in The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” said Team Principal, Eric Boullier. “No advantage was sought or gained in the incident and the relevant part has been replaced.
“We’ve seen what Kimi can do to work through the field when he needs to and we are going all out for the strongest result possible.”
Raikkonen car fails floor test post-qualifying - Lotus team members have been summoned to the stewards after Raikkonen’s car did not pass a floor deflection test after he qualified fifth for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A statement from the stewards said: “car number seven [Raikkonen] 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 car centre line on the [left-hand side].”
