Grosjean’s car fails post-qualifying inspection

2013 Hungarian Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Romain Grosjean could lose his third place on the grid after his Lotus failed a post-qualifying inspection.

The floor of the E21 was found to move too much under when a load was applied to it.

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said in a statement: “After the qualifying practice session an asymmetric [right-hand side] front floor deflection test was carried on car numbers one, eight and ten according to Article 3.17.5.”

“Car numbers one and ten were found in conformity with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.

“However car number eight did not comply with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations as the front floor deflected more than 5mm vertically when the load was applied vertically to it at the point which lies 100mm of car centre line on the [right-hand side].

“I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”

Failing a technical inspection after qualifying normally leads to the driver in question being excluding from the results and having to start the race from the back of the grid.

Update: Grosjean escapes penalty for failing floor test

2013 Hungarian Grand Prix

Browse all 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix articles

Image © Lotus/LAT

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

39 comments on “Grosjean’s car fails post-qualifying inspection”

  1. So kimi was actually running an old floor??

    1. I expect that’s one of many possible explanations. For example, Grosjean’s could have been damaged.

      1. Sure enough Grosjean and Raikkonen’s cars had the same part, as explained here:

        Grosjean escapes penalty for failing floor test

    2. Nice treatment there to their ” No.1 driver “

      1. Sometimes new is not better. Remember 2008 when the new Ferrari didn’t work at all for Kimi. Up to that point he was in contention for the title even after being rammed out of the Canadian GP by Hamilton. Took them 5 or 6 races before they decided to go back to the old specs.

        1. its not the first time, Romain got new front wing in shanghai first. Same as Silverstone where he got new slim rear bodywork first.

      2. It could have been a test to see if they could get away with it.

    3. Only TOP3 of the qualy had this test.

    4. Kimis car was not tested….

  2. Are only the top three qualifiers subjected to these checks?

    1. nope. all cars were checked. but the top 3 would be the last of them all.

  3. Either a 5 place grid penalty or goes to the back of the grid for Romain. There goes my prediction out of the window

    1. @um1234 If his car doesn’t comply with the regulations there won’t be a grid penalty, he’ll be excluded from qualifying.

      1. he can start from the back of the grid or the pit lane…

        1. @um1234 Yes. I’m just saying he can’t get a grid penalty – he either keeps 3rd or is disqualified from the results, nothing in between.

  4. To be fair They should check Kimi’s car also. Poor Grosjean, from alternator failures to this.

    1. they check everyones cars.

    2. they did. top 3 cars were the last of them all to be checked.

  5. Interesting to see that only the top 3 failed the scrutineering.
    Perhaps that was their edge over the competition.

    I joke of course, I doubt it made much difference at all.

    1. different fia officers were allocated to check it. This particular one checked on top 3 cars. hence he only mentioned car 1, 10 ,8

    2. “Interesting to see that only the top 3 failed the scrutineering.”

      Only GRO failed it

      “Car numbers one and ten were found in conformity with Article 3.17.5 of the 2013 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.

  6. *** Lotus always making these stupid little mistakes. what a let down. if vettel leads into the first corner its race over

  7. There goes the “Only Kimi gets new parts” -lines hopefully for good.

    1. thats bs.

      More often than not romain has got the new part first last year. Ted Kravitz had it covered last year in his notebook.

      In china gp, romain got new front wing first. In silverstone, romain got new bodywork first.

      1. Kimi also had an upgraded car in Silverstone, but he was running a different upgrade package. Kimi has what Lotus term their “drag reduction device” (a passively activated rear wing stalling device) fitted to his car, with Grosjean used as a benchmark to see whether the DRD was more or less effective than the standard car.

  8. There seem to have been an unusually high number of exclusions from quali this year, is it true due to increased testing standards or am I just imagining it?

  9. Well this is a serious matter because we all know from watching the practice sessions in the last 3 races Lotus has been sparking over the kerbs like mad, perhaps we should keep a closer eye on them from now on.

    1. In all likely hood this floor is a new version that pushed the envelope in terms of flexing. Kimi never failed his cars test.

      Alternatively, the floor could have:
      • Broken and thus flexed more than intended
      • Worn out and become more flexible over time.
      • Flexed more when warm. Maybe the top 3 check happens sooner than the normal test, catching Lotus out?

  10. There’s nothing unfair or unlucky about this, cars have to comply within the technical regulations and if they fail to do so they should be excluded regardless of the amount of benefit (if any) gotten.

  11. I fear it might be this sort of event that’ll kill Grosjean’s confidence again, after what seemed like a decent resurgence from the dude :(

  12. Nooo, pleeeease, noo, I was soo glad that Alonso and Massa both secured a good position on the clean side of the grid! Now both would suffer big time from the dusty spots.

    No, I just said to myself following the checkered flag that just no penalties on the front. Here it comes.

    Raikkonen will be by in a blast.

    OK, Vettel is literally one step closer, but it may still be diadvantegous with the dirty side.

  13. For his benefit I hope it was merely a damage-induced failure and that it simply requires that the component be replaced. Otherwise, seriously bad luck for Grosjean.

    1. Maybe thats the reason he was doing so well compared to his teammate that running old floor was fighting his car all weekend with a few rally stunts.

  14. BBC highlights just announced no penalty for Grosjean, they must have successfully argued accident (curb) damage.

  15. this is outrageous, he finally found some confidence and was doing so well… goddamnit!

  16. Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
    27th July 2013, 18:51

    What does this mean for Fernando ALonso? Now he is starting from the dirty side of the track, although the Ferrari is quick at starts, maybe the quickest.

    1. Nothing, see my previous post and the latest story at the top of f1fanatic.

      1. Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
        27th July 2013, 19:10

        Oh, but thats actually positive for senor Alonso, isn’t it(?), since that 5th grid position can make massive difference in traction.
        Am i wrong if I predict that ALonso can be in 3rd position after lap 1 tomorrow?? =)

        1. Anything is possible.

Comments are closed.