18 Feb 2014 Australian Rolex Grand Prix Albert Park (Thu 13th Mar – Sun 16th March 2014)
Australia, we have been robbed of our first Aussie Formula 1 Home Podium finish due to a technicality! Stewards disqualified Daniel Riccardo declaring that Car 3 exceeded the required fuel mass flow of 100kg/h.
Red Bull Racing had trouble with the readings on the fuel flow sensor and decided that it was unreliable. The team chose to run the car using their fuel flow model, without direction from the FIA. This is a violation of the procedure within TD/ 01614. Although the sensor showed a difference in readings between runs in P1, it remains the homologated and required sensor against which the team is obliged to measure their fuel flow, unless given permission by the FIA to do otherwise.
It doesn’t help when an already complicated sport has become even more convoluted and more tightly policed in 2014. The FIA were still rewriting the rulebook only days before practice began at Albert Park in Melbourne.
Engine failure put Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel out of the race
Ultimately, even though Daniel Riccardo stood on the Podium, the results were Nico Rosberg & McLaren took First Place, Kevin Magnussen’s Mercedes took second place and Jenson Button’s Ferrari in third place.
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