Breaking news
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Server crash forced FIA to disable DRS in Abu Dhabi
A data server crash in race control caused the FIA to disable the use of DRS for the first third of the Abu Dhabi GP before the issue was addressed.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Dec 2, 2019, 2:26 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The problem arose just before the FIA was due to enable DRS, at the end of the second lap. A message on the timing screens alerted teams to the fact that it couldn’t be used, because race control could not send a signal to the cars. It was finally enabled on lap 18, and was used safely until the end of the race.
“It was basically a data server crash,” said race director Michael Masi. “Basically, immediately we disabled it and it wasn’t until we were 100% confident that it was all not only back up and running, but back up and running with the correct data available, that we re-enabled it.
“We ran various checks working between collaboratively the FIA and the F1 Group to make sure that everything was working hunky dory. We were not going to take a chance until we were confident.
“Basically, the DRS signals going to the cars, there wasn't effectively a confident feed that we could rely upon.
"We had make sure that it was effectively back up and running, and back up and running in a stable condition that we were confident that what was being sent was being sent equally and correctly. And once we were happy with that, between us we reactivated it and enabled DRS."
Read Also:
Asked what would have happened had DRS not been disabled, Masi said: “It wouldn't have been a free-for-all, and to be honest, the exact impacts of it, I prefer not to even think about what they were! But effectively, the precautionary measure straight away was just to do a global disable.
“There is a back-up. But the first part is to actually identify what the first issue was. And as we all know, with any back-up systems, there's a lag with things clicking over.”
In the past, there have sometimes been issues with the signal to individual cars which did not lead to DRS being suspended.
“If it was a single car had an issue, obviously far easier to monitor. When you've got 20 of them, it would have been near on impossible to keep on top of that. So the decision was made very simply, let's just disable it, and leave it at that.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sainz: Unseen last-lap move felt like world title decider
Next article F1 boss Carey says no decision on Bratches yet
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 10, 2024
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
34 min
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
1 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 5 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe