Mercedes assures that its DDA is not responsible for punctures

Since its big debut in winter testing in Barcelona, ​​dual-axis steering Mercedes (DDA or DAS in English for “dual axis steering”) continues to fuel the fantasies and annoyance of the competition. 

Deemed legal for the 2020 season, despite a complaint filed by Red Bull in Austria, but already banned for the 2021 campaign, the device allows you to adjust the toe-in of the front wheels by pulling on the steering wheel. This has the effect of offering better tire temperature management, a crucial element in tire performance. Formula 1 modern. 

The double puncture on the front left suffered Lewis Hamilton et Valtteri Bottas in the final laps of the British Grand Prix did not fail to challenge. Could the DDA have contributed, even if only indirectly, to these spectacular damages which deprived the six-time world champion team of a podium and almost cost it victory? Mercedes responds in the negative.

« DAS has sparked a lot of questions this season, including at the last race where some wondered if the system caused the punctures, recognized James Vowles, strategy manager at the Brackley team. I can answer you categorically: no. And this for many reasons.

The device was not in use at the time the problems arose, it was instead used at the start of the GP. Furthermore, Carlos Sainz (McLaren) also had a flat tire, but his car is not equipped with DDA. Finally, several of our competitors have complained of vibrations similar to those reported by Valtteri. So the problem is not limited to Mercedes. We just found ourselves on the wrong side of history ». 

After an in-depth study of the 3 punctures, Pirelli explained that they were mainly due to excessive wear caused by a long second stint, the 2nd Safety Car having pushed the teams to stop their drivers earlier than expected (12th lap instead of the 18th).