Williams cars DQ'd after Singapore qualifying

SINGAPORE -- Both Williams cars person been disqualified from the results of Saturday's qualifying league astatine the Singapore Grand Prix aft the Drag Reduction System (DRS) flap connected the rear wings of some cars was recovered to unfastened beyond the maximum bounds permitted successful the regulations.

Alex Albon qualified 12th and Carlos Sainz 13th successful Saturday evening's session, but they volition present commencement the Sunday's contention from the backmost of the grid.

The DRS works arsenic an overtaking assistance successful F1 by allowing drivers wrong a 2nd of the car successful beforehand to unfastened a flap successful the rear wing, trim resistance and summation apical velocity during races.

DRS is besides disposable to drivers successful the permitted zones astir the circuit passim qualifying.

The maximum opening of the flap is 85mm, but post-session checks recovered some Williams cars to beryllium beyond the limit.

"During post-qualifying scrutineering, the rear helping of the car was recovered to beryllium noncompliant with the Technical Regulations," a stewards' connection said. "The uppermost rear helping constituent adjustable positions were checked. The DRS successful the authorities of deployment exceeded the maximum bounds of 85 mm connected some sides of the rear helping outer area.

"At the hearing, the rival admitted that, though their ain measurement anterior to the qualifying had shown the constituent to beryllium wrong tolerance, the measurement subsequently conducted by the appointed FIA Officials revealed a larger spread than permitted and truthful the rear helping did not conform with the required dimension.

"The Competitor did not contention the measurement procedure, the methodology, oregon the accuracy of the measuring instrumentality utilized by FIA. The Competitor afloat accepted the results of the FIA measurement and acknowledged that the rear helping fitted to the car did not comply with the requirements of the Technical Regulations."

In a connection aft the decision, Williams squad main James Vowles made wide that his squad had not attempted to summation a show vantage and was "urgently" investigating however the mistake happened.

"During FIA scrutineering aft Qualifying, the rear wings connected some our cars failed DRS slot spread checks," Vowles said. "As a result, Alex and Carlos person been disqualified from qualifying for tomorrow's Singapore Grand Prix. This is bitterly disappointing for the squad and we are urgently investigating however this happened.

"At nary constituent were we seeking a show vantage and the rear wings had passed our ain checks earlier successful the day, but determination is lone 1 measurement that matters and we afloat judge the FIA ruling.

"We person a car susceptible of scoring points present this play and volition bash everything we tin to combat from the backmost of the grid tomorrow, and volition instantly reappraisal our processes to marque definite this doesn't hap again."