14/04/2013
NEWS STORY
Seven drivers under investigation for using DRS while the "DRS Disabled" message was being displayed have avoided sanction.
At the heart of the matter is an ongoing problem since the opening round which has seen the official telemetry system working intermitently and as a result was turned off leaving drivers to disable DRS themselves.
Indeed, the Race Stewards in China, whilst investigating Romain Grosjean, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Chilton admitted that there were "mitigating circumstances".
These were:
1: A delay of 1 minute from the display of the yellow flags until the message appeared on the official message system.
2: The electronic marshalling system DRS disable function was not operational, so drivers were relying on team communications and information conveyed to them in the "Note to Teams" which was issued prior to the Race, resulting in a degree of confusion.
3: The DRS use was on the main straight where a green light was displayed.
As a result no further action is to be taken.
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