Formula 1 teams will debut a new wheel locking system from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards in an effort to avoid instances such as that of Mark Webber in Germany when his tyre came free and struck an FOM cameraman.
The FIA has enforced a regulation amendment which comes in to force in Singapore in a three-weeks time, which stipulates that teams must adopt a new retention system which ensures the wheel cannot come free even if the nut itself isn’t fitted correctly.
Article 14.7 of the technical regulations states: “All cars, whilst under their own power, must be fitted with devices which will retain the wheel fastener in the event of it coming loose.”
The teams have been aware of the regulation change for a couple of weeks now and have been working on the new system since – though none have yet raced with it.
McLaren tested their device on Friday in Belgium and sporting director Sam Michael says they’ll try it again in Italy.
“We tried it on the car on Friday and we will probably put it on the car for Friday at Monza as well,” he confirmed.
“It is a little bit different and, when you are operating with pitstops around two seconds in length, the most marginal things can make a big difference.
“Just a tiny change to the design can really disturb the mechanics and their whole routine.”
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