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19th
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From GMM
A photo has emerged that some believe is evidence Red Bull is using illegal 'traction control' aboard its championship-leading RB9 car.
"Bumps or traction control?" a report by Italy's Autosprint said.
The photo shows Mark Webber's single seater exiting a corner in Canada and leaving rubber marks on the track due to wheel spin.
But, apparently moments into the wheel spin, the rubber marks become dotted, as if to depict the kicking-in of a form of traction control, which is not allowed in F1.
The photo was sent in by a reader, who admitted that the dotted wheel spin marks may also have been caused by a phenomenon of resonance in the rear suspension.
"Anyway, the image is worth reporting," the Autosprint story read.
UPDATE
Such tire marks cannot be the undisputed proof that Red Bull is using some sort of a traction control device.
In 1984-1985, the Michelin-shod F1 cars used to leave similar tire marks on the tarmac under powerful accelerations. Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier explained at the time that the flexible sidewalls of the radial Michelin tire generated major tire deformation under extreme loads, producing these marks, as there were no traction control systems at the time.
This photo taken by WRI2 last year shows similar tire marks, again caused by the deformation of the tire under acceleration.
A photo has emerged that some believe is evidence Red Bull is using illegal 'traction control' aboard its championship-leading RB9 car.
"Bumps or traction control?" a report by Italy's Autosprint said.
The photo shows Mark Webber's single seater exiting a corner in Canada and leaving rubber marks on the track due to wheel spin.
But, apparently moments into the wheel spin, the rubber marks become dotted, as if to depict the kicking-in of a form of traction control, which is not allowed in F1.
The photo was sent in by a reader, who admitted that the dotted wheel spin marks may also have been caused by a phenomenon of resonance in the rear suspension.
"Anyway, the image is worth reporting," the Autosprint story read.
 |
| Caption: FOM |
UPDATE
Such tire marks cannot be the undisputed proof that Red Bull is using some sort of a traction control device.
In 1984-1985, the Michelin-shod F1 cars used to leave similar tire marks on the tarmac under powerful accelerations. Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier explained at the time that the flexible sidewalls of the radial Michelin tire generated major tire deformation under extreme loads, producing these marks, as there were no traction control systems at the time.
This photo taken by WRI2 last year shows similar tire marks, again caused by the deformation of the tire under acceleration.
 |
| Tire marks on the starting grid. (Photo: WRI2) |