Stewards outlaw BAR system

Paddock rumour suggested that BAR could be the subject of a post-race protest on the grounds that cars must conform with the regulations throughout the meeting, but BAR claims that the device was fitted only to the T-car, which was never used by the race team.

A report from technical delegate Charlie Whiting referred to the use of "an electro-hydraulic software controlled device which connects the front wheels via drive shafts and allows controlled torque transfer from a faster wheel to a slower wheel even under braking."

The idea is to prevent the inside front wheel locking up under braking. The arrangement was something of a shock to many of F1's technical movers and shakers, as Ferrari's Ross Brawn explained.

"In the late '90s Benetton had a system that was purely mechanical," he said. "It had a pair of drive shafts and in the centre was a mechanical differential. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't, but it was a very tricky system to set-up and they abandoned it because the inconsistency was a problem.

"Everybody knew at that time that the best thing to do was to put a hydraulic diff' in there with electronic control software, a Moog valve, and then you could tune it perfectly. But the FIA told everyone who made that proposal that you couldn't do it.

"I guess [BAR technical director] Geoff [Willis] wasn't around in those days, doing that work, and he came up with a system that clearly contravened the clarifications that the FIA had given the teams a few years ago.

"What it basically says is that the brake system must have no power added to it apart from what the driver can do with his foot. I believe the BAR system, because it was adding electricity and hydraulic energy to the system, was adding assistance to the brakes, in contravention of article 11.1.3.

"It's a situation that was very clear to many people. We were a bit shocked and only found out quite late. Some of our competitors were earlier into Charlie's office than we were!"