The FIA declares the front suspension of the Lotus illegal
Following a report sent by McLaren to the FIA, the latter deemed the front suspension of the Lotus illegal. The Enstone team will have to revise their plans for the German Grand Prix.
The International Automobile Federation has asked the Lotus F1 team to modify its front suspension for the next race, the German Grand Prix, which will take place next weekend at the Nürburgring circuit. This request follows a submission by the McLaren team according to Auto Motor und Sport.
The Woking team believes that the front suspension of the Lotus E21 does not comply with point 10.5.2 of the technical regulations, which states that « three suspension elements can be connected to each other by titanium, aluminum alloy, or steel components before their load is transferred ». According to the German magazine, McLaren sent a report to the FIA this Friday, suggesting—through photos—that the Lotus team is using a suspension composed of 4 elements instead of the 3 allowed.
The Enstone team can use its current suspension design this weekend at Silverstone as it is too late to change it, but a modification will need to be made by the next race taking place next weekend, otherwise they could face a penalty. Lotus has agreed to make this modification, which it considers minor, and which should not alter its current good form a priori.
