After day two of pre-season testing, Jak Crawford, Christian Mansell, Alex Dunne and Max Esterson were all disqualified for breaching article 10.2 of the FIA Formula 2 Sporting Regulations. The matter was referred to the stewards in Australia, where it was reopened and where the six DAMS, Rodin Motorsport and Trident drivers received 10-place grid drops for both races. Feeder Series asked several F2 drivers for their thoughts on the topic. 

By Calla Kra-Caskey

In total, six drivers across three teams were called to the stewards. These were Crawford and teammate Kush Maini for DAMS; Dunne and Amaury Cordeel, who has taken Mansell’s place, for Rodin; and Esterson and teammate Sami Megetounif for Trident.

The originally disqualified cars were summoned for “non compliance with article 10.2a at Barcelona Test”, while Maini and Meguetounif were called for the non-compliance of their teammate’s car.

Article 10.2 of the F2 sporting regulations sets out guidelines for preseason testing, particularly with regard to tyres. It also says that “during each of these tests all Technical Regulations must be respected.” 

All cars disqualified at the tests allegedly breached article 1.5.2 concerning the modification of parts, 8.4.10 concerning the modification to fit a sensor, and 8.4.11 concerning the protrusion of sensors. In addition, Esterson’s car allegedly violated Article 8.4.7 concerning the installation of an extra CAN extension.

The stewards’ documents revealed that the four cars disqualified from the Barcelona test had “drilled… holes into the diffusor (part number FF2403A005) to convey the airflow beneath it into the pipeline of the pressure sensor”.

Each of the six investigated drivers received 10-place grid drops for both races in Melbourne. Teams have been fined €10,000 per disqualified car.

In addition, the stewards “strongly recommended” that the four disqualified entries from DAMS, Rodin and Trident have their participation at the in-season Bahrain test ahead of the second round reduced from three days to two and that all other teams be allowed to apply for the use of similar sensors at the test.

Feeder Series spoke to ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins and Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli about the matter after the drivers had been summoned to the stewards but before the verdict had been made.

“I feel a bit sorry for them,” Martins said. “I know some drivers, they might not have been informed from their teams, maybe they didn’t know that they were doing that, so for sure it’s a bit of a shame.” 

The alleged breaches of the regulations all surround additional sensors on the cars, meaning the teams were likely using testing to gather data illicitly. 

Still, the Frenchman took the allegations seriously, arguing that “the teams need to pay for that.” 

“I always loved sport, sport is in my life, –but sport at the same level, like everyone under the same regulations,” he said. “So for sure when you see a team adding some things to the car, it’s not great because you don’t want anyone to cheat, and you don’t want to feel that you’re going against some teams that are trying to cheat or to find some tools to have better information on the car.” 

“That’s the one I love, fair competition,” he added. 

Although he said he didn’t want to get involved in the matter, Fornaroli agreed with the sentiment of fairness. 

“I’m just saying I hope there are going to be some fair consequences, because for me the most important thing about the sport is fair play,” he said. “Just saying this.” 

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency