Both Williams drivers have been excluded from the results of their qualifying rounds at the Singapore Grand Prix due to a DRS violation.
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz had scheduled for Saturday night on the 12th and 13th respectively, but during scrutiny after departure, both cars were found to have “beyond the maximum limit of 85 mm on either side of the outer region of the rear wing” of the top element. The issue was introduced to the stewards, and Williams was unable to provide an acceptable explanation for the violation.
“In the hearing, competitors acknowledged that their own prequalifying measurements showed the component tolerance, but subsequent measurements taken by subsequently appointed FIA officials revealed a larger gap than allowed.
“Competers did not challenge the accuracy of the measurement procedures, methodology or measuring equipment used by the FIA. Competitors fully accepted the results of the FIA measurements and acknowledged that the vehicle-compliant rear wings do not comply with technical regulations requirements.”
James Vols, principal of the Williams team, says the team is trying to understand how the wings are legal before qualifying, but admits it is outside the regulations of the FIA test.
“This is a terrible disappointment for the team and we are urgently investigating how this happened,” Vowels said. “There was no point where they didn’t seek performance advantage, but the Rearwings passed their own checks earlier in the day, but only one important measurement and fully accepts the FIA ruling.
“We have a car that can score points here this weekend, and we’ll do everything we can to fight from behind the grid tomorrow, and we’ll check the process right away so that this doesn’t happen again.”
With both drivers being ruled out of the results, the steward gave him a position to start the race from behind the grid for the satisfying lap times he actually set. Williams is allowed to strengthen his wings to ensure that Haas meets race regulations and starts at the back of the grid, as did Haas at Azerbaijan Grand Prix.