The Lotus team has officially filed a protest against Mercedes’s super-DRS rear-wing system, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The system, which reduces drag by channelling air from the rear-wing to the front of the car through a system of tubes, has been declared legal on two previous occasions.
Despite this, Lotus has lodged a protest with the FIA on Thursday. The hearing between the two teams and the governing body will take place this afternoon.
Lotus has paid a €2,000 deposit for the protest, which will only be returned if they are successful in getting the device banned.
The protest falls under article 3.15 of the technical regulations which state that driver movement cannot alter the aerodynamics of the car.
“With the exception of the parts necessary for the adjustment described in Article 3.18, any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited,” the rules sate.
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