Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi has explained that a data server crashing was responsible for DRS being disabled for the opening third of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The system was set to be implemented on lap 3, as usual, but a notification from race control revealed that it was not being used due to a technical issue.
DRS was eventually activated on lap 19 of the 55-lap race, and remained in use for the remainder of the grand prix.
“The simple part is a data server crashed,” said Masi.
“The timing still operated fine as we all saw but that crashed and we immediately disabled it and until we were 100 per cent confident that it was all, not only back up and running but back up and running with the correct data available, that was when we re-enabled it.
“We ran various checks collaboratively between the FIA and F1 group to make sure everything was working hunky dory.
“Until that point in time we were not going to take a chance until we were confident.”
Masi refused to blame any single party and added that: “We work with everything together so I am not going to say if it is an FIA or FOM system, we are in this together and we will continue to be in this together.
“It is the first time that it is happened. Before anyone asks, yes there is a backup but the first part is to actually identify what the first issue was and as we all know with any backup system there is a lag in things clicking over.”
