Malaysian Grand Prix. Photo by William Herrera
Formula One continued with its uninterrupted run of disqualifications this week. It was announced on April 1 that all competitors who finished the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday have been disqualified. The FIA has ruled that all finishers except one had exceeded the maximum allowed fuel consumption. “What the teams failed to take into account is the thermal expansion that takes place in a hot climate like Malaysia’s. Apparently, they forgot the slogan that this is the hottest race in Formula One,” said the FIA statement. Fourteen of the fifteen cars were deemed to have gone beyond the allowed 100 kg/hour rule.
The exception is Williams-Mercedes team driver Felipe Massa, who has stayed within the fuel consumption rule. However, he was disqualified for disobeying team orders. Team orders were once again allowed this year. Massa did not allow his teammate Valtteri Bottas to pass, despite team orders to do so. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that the move precludes manufacture of T-shirts with the slogan that “Bottas is faster than you. Do you understand this message?” since Massa did not let Bottas through.
With report from April One
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