News - Reactive Ride Height Is Banned

All Formula One teams have been informed by the FIA that the reactive ride height system is banned for the 2012 season.

Lotus Renault were the first to try this new technology out when the trialled it at the young driver test in Abu Dhabi last year. The system is designed to maintain the front end ride height under braking in the corners. This obviously had an impact on the aerodynamics of the car.

Rival teams, including Ferrari had started to invest time in this field but despite the FIA giving a green light a few days ago, they now have no choice but to abandon the idea. How close had the teams come to producing this on their cars? Have Lotus incorporated it into their car so much so that the car was built around it? I guess these questions will be answered in a couple of weeks at the first tests.

In my humble opinion the FIA should have made a decision a while ago and stuck to it. As Formula One is trying to save money, this does not help teams. The FIA did this last year and then backtracked in the middle of the season with the blown diffuser. They really need to have a clear set of rules and stick to them. If a team finds an innovative idea and its within the current rules, the FIA should let them get on with it. Formula One is a sport based on technology, the FIA would be better letting the teams get one with it, as long as its within current rules.