Mercedes' Das Usage In Austria: What We Know

Mercedes' Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system, which allows drivers to move the steering wheel backward and forward to adjust the toe angle of their car, was used during the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix. The system was first debuted during pre-season testing and was met with controversy, with Red Bull protesting its legality. However, the stewards in Austria rejected the protest, deeming the DAS system to be a part of the steering system and therefore not in breach of any suspension-related regulations.

DAS stands for Dual-Axis Steering

The main purpose of DAS is to help heat up the front tyres by changing the alignment of the front wheels. This is particularly beneficial on circuits with long straights, as it allows drivers to maintain tyre temperature during safety car periods and qualifying laps. By reducing the toe angle, the system generates more heat at the front, improving traction and tyre preparation for push laps.

The use of DAS by Mercedes caused controversy in the Formula 1 community, with rival teams, including Red Bull, questioning its legality. The system was ultimately allowed for the 2020 season but banned for subsequent years due to concerns over its powerful advantage and the potential safety implications of similar systems being adopted by other teams.

The system was utilised by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas during the Austrian Grand Prix, sparking further discussions and protests from Red Bull. Despite the protests, Mercedes was able to continue using DAS in Austria, providing valuable insight into its functionality and impact on race performance.

DAS allowed drivers to move the steering wheel back and forth

Mercedes' Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system allowed drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to move the steering wheel back and forth to adjust the toe angle of the front wheels of their cars. This movement allowed them to change the angle of the tyres, with the wheels normally tracking outwards but shifting inwards when DAS was engaged.

The system was first introduced during pre-season testing in February 2020 and caused a stir among rival teams, with Red Bull seeking clarification from the FIA about its legality. DAS was ultimately ruled legal and allowed to be used for the 2020 season, after which it was banned.

The ability to adjust the toe angle provided several benefits to the drivers. Firstly, it allowed them to control the tyre temperature by deciding which part of the tyre to heat up. This was particularly advantageous during safety car periods or qualifying laps, where tyre temperature is critical. Secondly, it improved stability and handling in corners by adjusting the toe angle to create a toe-out position, which is highly desirable in turns.

The use of DAS was not limited to specific parts of the track, with Hamilton and Bottas utilising it at various points during the Austrian Grand Prix practice sessions. However, it was noted that the system was not used during longer runs in FP2, indicating that it was primarily employed as a tyre preparation tool rather than for tyre management over an entire stint.

The innovation provided by DAS gave Mercedes a significant advantage, contributing to their dominance in the 2020 season. The system was deemed too powerful by other teams, who were unable to recreate it during the season. As a result, the FIA decided to ban DAS starting in 2021 to prevent Mercedes from having an unfair advantage over their rivals.

The system was used to adjust the toe angle of the front wheels

Mercedes' Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system was used to adjust the toe angle of the front wheels of their cars during the 2020 Formula 1 season. The toe angle, or toe, refers to the angle of the wheels concerning the car's perfect forward trajectory. Adjusting the toe angle can impact tyre temperature, car stability, and handling in corners.

The DAS system allowed drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to move the steering wheel toward them and change the toe angle on the front wheels. The wheels typically track outward, but when the DAS is engaged, the angle shifts inward. This shift in the toe angle can be used to increase the temperature on the outer part of the tyre, improving tyre grip and reducing wear.

The system was first used during practice sessions at the Austrian Grand Prix, sparking protests from rival team Red Bull, who questioned the legality of the system. However, the stewards in Austria rejected the protest, declaring the DAS system to be a legitimate part of the steering system and therefore not in breach of any suspension-related regulations.

The DAS system provided Mercedes with a competitive advantage, as it allowed their drivers to make fine adjustments to the front wheels, optimising their performance for specific turns. The system was a key factor in Mercedes' dominant performance during the 2020 season, where they won 13 out of 17 races.

DAS was banned from 2021 onwards

DAS, or Dual-Axis Steering, was a system pioneered by Mercedes that allowed their drivers to adjust the toe of the car by moving the steering wheel forwards and backwards. This meant that the front wheels could be made to track straight on the straights, preventing the inside shoulder of the tyre from scrubbing and reducing the likelihood of overheating and blistering.

DAS was first seen during pre-season testing in 2020 and was due to be outlawed when the overhauled technical rules arrived in 2021. However, the postponement of these new rules to 2022 appeared to give DAS a stay of execution, allowing it to remain on cars for another year.

Despite this, the FIA confirmed that DAS would be banned under the carried-over 2020 technical regulations, with a modification appearing in the newly published 2021 rules. This was achieved by the addition of Article 10.4.2 in the section covering steering systems, which states:

> "The realignment of the steered wheels must be uniquely defined by a monotonic function of the rotation of a single steering wheel about a single axis. Furthermore, the inboard attachment points of the suspensions members connected to the steering system must remain a fixed distance from each other and can only translate in the direction normal to the car centre plane."

The rest of the steering regulations remained unchanged, and the rule banning DAS was included in the original 2021 regulations as the FIA was aware of the Mercedes design before it made its first appearance in pre-season testing.

Mercedes had therefore committed to running DAS for a year before it was made illegal, while rival teams were known to be evaluating their own versions of the system. The uncertainty surrounding the start of the 2020 campaign, combined with the confirmation that DAS couldn't run in 2021, meant teams were unsure what benefit they would gain from producing their own versions.

Despite the upcoming ban, Mercedes continued to work on the development of DAS and push its deployment as much as possible before it was no longer permitted on the car. DAS was used by Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to help with tyre warm-up before qualifying laps and race restarts through the early part of the 2020 season.

The ban on DAS from 2021 onwards was likely due to a combination of cost considerations and the possibility that the new rules originally planned for 2021 could be pushed back further, allowing teams to make greater cost savings at a time when they were under severe financial pressure due to the delayed start of the 2020 championship.

Mercedes dominated the 2020 season with the DAS system

Mercedes' Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system made its debut at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2020. The DAS system allowed drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to move the steering wheel toward them and change the angle of the toe on the front wheels. This meant that the wheels could be adjusted from pointing outward to pointing inward.

The system was first spotted during pre-season testing, and rival team Red Bull immediately began to question its legality. Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted that his team was "raising questions" and seeking clarification from the FIA about the system. Despite this, the DAS system was ruled legal, and Mercedes was allowed to continue using it for the remainder of the 2020 season.

The DAS system gave Mercedes a significant advantage over the competition. It allowed their drivers to adjust the temperature and decide which part of the tyre they wanted to heat up. This was especially useful during safety car periods and in qualifying preparation laps. As a result, Mercedes dominated the 2020 season, winning 13 out of 17 races and breaking multiple lap records. Their car from that year is considered one of the fastest in Formula 1 history.

However, the DAS system was short-lived, as the FIA changed the rules, banning its use from the 2021 season onwards. The system was too powerful, and other teams were unable to recreate it during the 2020 season.

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