Why was Daniel Ricciardo disqualified and how did it happen? The Formula One controversy explained

DANIEL Ricciardo did nothing wrong, so why was he stripped of his podium finish? We cut through the jargon to reveal what happened at the Formula One.

WHEN you get past all the jargon, Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from the Melbourne Grand Prix was down to insubordination more than anything else.

Ricciardo himself is blameless. Even the stewards who decided to disqualify him admit that. Their quarrel is with Ricciardo’s team, Red Bull, which apparently decided to ignore warnings from a representative of FIA, the sport’s governing body, both before and during the race.

RICCIARDO DISQUALIFIED AFTER FINISHING SECOND

That representative, Jo Bauer, later reported the issue to the stewards, saying Ricciardo’s car “exceeded consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow of 100kg/h”.

Why is that such a big deal? How did Red Bull let it happen, and how did the authorities find out? Allow us to explain.

Ricciardo presumably discussing the finer points of fuel flow with a fellow driver.

WHAT IS FUEL FLOW?

In very basic terms, “fuel flow” refers to the rate at which fuel is consumed by a car. More fuel in the engine means more power.

Under the sport’s drastically revamped rules for the 2014 season, Formula One cars can only carry 100kg of fuel per race, and they are limited to a fuel flow of 100kg per hour.

If Ricciardo’s car did break the fuel flow limit, he would have been able to drive more aggressively than his competitors, giving him an unfair advantage.

Red Bull mechanics perform a regulation pit stop on Ricciardo’s car. No silly buggers here.

HOW IS FUEL FLOW MEASURED?

It’s monitored by a fuel consumption meter, which uses ultrasonic wave pulses to determine how quickly the car’s fuel is flowing.

That may sound rather hi-tech. That’s because it is rather hi-tech.

These consumption meters have been approved by FIA, but they’re owned and operated by the teams, and each sensor is calibrated individually.

During the race, the meters transmit data in real time, allowing FIA’s technical representatives to monitor fuel consumption.

Zoom zoom zoom. Oh wait, that’s Mazda.

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE RACE?

The grand prix took place over three days. Ricciardo drove in practice sessions on Friday, practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, and the race itself on Sunday. Red Bull had trouble with its fuel flow meter from the start.

The meter on Ricciardo’s car sent back inconsistent readings during his first practice sessions on Friday. Red Bull switched to a different meter on Saturday, but the replacement also gave them “unsatisfactory” readings.

Having observed all of this, FIA told Red Bull to refit the original meter on Saturday night and apply an “offset” to decrease the car’s fuel flow.

Red Bull did reinstall the original meter, but claimed it was unreliable and decided to ignore its readings, using their own system of measurement instead.

“I need a haircut.”

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE RACE?

FIA’s technical representative checked the fuel flow reading from Ricciardo’s car during the race on Sunday and discovered it was too high.

He contacted Red Bull and gave them an opportunity to reduce the car’s fuel flow. The team chose not to make any changes, and Ricciardo finished in second place.

Mr Bauer reported Red Bull to the stewards, who deliberated for more than five hours before announcing Ricciardo had been disqualified.

Ricciardo auditions for a Colgate commercial.

WHAT DID RED BULL SAY AFTER THAT?

“Inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter have been prevalent all weekend up and down the pit lane.

FANS FILTHY AT RICCIARDO DECISION

“The team and Renault are confident the fuel supplied to the engine is in full compliance with the regulations.”

TRANSLATION: The meter used to measure fuel flow was unreliable, and that justified the switch to our own system of measurement. We’re really annoyed about this.

The driver was still pretty chuffed when he left the track.

AND WHAT DID THE STEWARDS SAY?

“The team chose to run the car using their fuel flow model, without direction from the FIA. This is a violation of the procedure.

“(The original meter) remains the homologated and required sensor against which the team is obliged to measure their fuel flow, unless given permission by the FIA to do otherwise.

READ THE STEWARDS’ FULL STATEMENT

“Regardless of the team’s assertion that the sensor was at fault, it is not within their discretion to run a different fuel flow measurement method without the permission of the FIA.”

TRANSLATION: It doesn’t matter if Red Bull thought the meter was unreliable, because teams aren’t allowed to switch to a backup system without permission. We’re really annoyed about this.

Nice bubble wrap mate.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Red Bull is appealing the stewards’ decision. Former Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart reckons there’s a good chance it will be overturned.

“Daniel did not gain any advantage and that will be proven by Red Bull in their appeal,’’ Mr Stoddart told 3AW radio in Melbourne.

WHY RICCIARDO WILL WIN HIS APPEAL

“They’ll be able to prove that he didn’t gain an advantage, that the team felt what they did was right, that they were following their own sensor from the actual fuel injection system on the engine.

“We’re talking teams with budgets of $400-$500 million here - they have far better equipment than the FIA.’’