Chinese Grand Prix: New Flow Meter Issue for Red Bull

After the verdict rendered by the FIA for the appeal of Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix and the issues encountered during the Malaysian Grand Prix, a new incident has struck a flow meter installed on the engine of a Red Bull RB10, report our British colleagues from Autosport.

This time it was Sebastian Vettel’s car that was involved. During the first part of qualifying (Q1), the sensor did not provide any data readings. The Red Bull team then asked the FIA for permission to use its own system, which the governing body approved.

Friday, already, difficulties had arisen when the flowmeter gave varying measurements even though the engine operating parameters remained unchanged.

During the hearing on Monday, April 14, it appeared that the fuel supplied by Total could damage the measuring instrument, thereby increasing the rate of problems. “We have discovered and identified the problem,” explained Fabrice Lom, head of engines at FIA. “It’s a problem that is now well understood, and we know that it only affects the sensor’s sensitivity. We found that a seal […] does not withstand the chemical composition of the fuel supplied by Total […] which destroys the sensors.”

This issue might not be the only one likely to affect the accuracy of the data provided by the sensors: « We also have another indication, which is that the teams modify the sensor. If you take an image of these sensors, you have two connections and some teams, Red Bull for example, remove them and put their own connections. If it is too long inside, it can touch the tube where the measurement is taken. » Let’s recall that the flow meter from Gill Sensors operates using ultrasound to avoid affecting the fuel flow. However, if a piece of an external element enters this tube, the flow can be altered.

This type of modification will no longer be possible from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, as the FIA has issued a technical directive to that effect.