Mercedes "used DAS more than ever" at Eifel GP

Mercedes' motorsport strategy director James Vowles confirmed Lewis Hamilton's strong safety car restart at the Eifel Grand Prix came thanks to the DAS system.

The much talked about dual-axis steering [DAS] system changes the tow angle of the front wheels, allowing more tyre temperature to be generated through the process of increased surface scrubbing.

With the high temperatures seen across the season up to date, DAS had become somewhat of a backstory, but at the Eifel Grand Prix, with track temperatures below 20C, Mercedes the benefit was clear.

“It is fair to say we used DAS more than ever this weekend," said Vowles.

"In Free Practice, on single lap work, in Qualifying but also during the race. In terms of where we used it in the race it was on the formation lap, but also when we were behind the Safety Car.

"Where we had a number of laps circulating on tyres that were just getting colder and colder. I think it is fair to say DAS was a contributing factor to why our restart was so good and really came into its own this weekend.”

The revelation came as little surprise to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who had theorised DAS was responsible for Verstappen's inability to challenge Hamilton upon the restart.

"I think that because the safety car waited for so long for the field to catch up and was going so slowly, the tyre temperature was a big issue," explained Horner.

"I think Mercedes, with the DAS system, were able to handle that a little bit better than we were."

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