'Double DRS' to be banned for 2013

Aug.1 (GMM) The technical concept known in the paddock this year as 'double DRS' looks set to be banned for 2013.

James Allison, Lotus Team Technical Director in the FIA Press Conference

Photo by: xpb.cc

Mercedes debuted the controversial straightline speed-boosting concept earlier this year, moving Lotus to lodge an official protest.

But instead of taking the FIA's decision to allow Mercedes to keep the system to the international court of appeal, Lotus emerged with a new interpretation of 'double DRS' during practice at Hockenheim recently.

The team practiced with the system on Kimi Raikkonen's car again at the Hungaroring, technical boss James Allison saying the tests helped "bring it a step closer to deployment in a race sometime in the future".

Speculation suggests Lotus will indeed debut it at the forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix, with Spa-Francorchamps undoubtedly Raikkonen's favourite track, and the system said to provide a good advantage on the long straights.

"Spa has always agreed with Kimi," former Finnish driver Mika Salo told the broadcaster MTV3, "and if the updates improve what is already the best car, he will be looking very good if he is able to start from the first two rows."

Media headlines at Marca (Spain), Turun Sanomat (Finland), Globo Esporte (Brazil) and elsewhere, however, say the entire 'double DRS' concept looks set to be banned for 2013.