tyredeg
← Banned technology register
2020

Rear brake ducts derived from Mercedes CAD

Racing Point · RP20

Sporting regulationVerified — secondary source
Legal when raced
Yes
Closed
2020
Survived
same season
Article
—

What was exploited

Rear brake ducts reverse-derived from Mercedes 2019 CAD data, at a moment when brake ducts had only recently become listed parts that a team must design itself.

The gap in the rulebook

The 2019 designs predated the change that made brake ducts listed parts.

What it was worth

A developed component without the development cost.

How it was closed — Sporting regulation

Ruled legal technically but in breach of the sporting regulations. EUR 400,000 fine and 15 constructors' points deducted. Brake ducts firmly in-house thereafter.

What changed in the data

15 constructors' points deducted.

Why it matters

The only case here prosecuted under the sporting rules rather than the technical ones. A schema with only "regulation" as a mechanism cannot represent it at all.