A software glitch caused Fernando Alonso’s drag-reduction system (DRS) to open illegally, outside of the activation zone on the back straight in China.
It is understood that for one lap only, the software was ‘offset’, meaning it didn’t activate as early as it should have down the straight giving Alonso the opportunity to use it after turn 14 and 15.
The activation zone begins 750 metres before turn 14. Alonso’s wing only activated with 500m remaining to turn 14, giving the Spaniard an extra 250m worth of use – most of which was covered without the wing open.
The FIA opted not to penalise Alonso and Ferrari after they deemed he didn’t gain an advantage, in fact the opposite, given he couldn’t fully utilise the system to pass Michael Schumacher on the huge 1.2km straight.
