Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believed DAS 'would never work'

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff wasn't convinced by his team’s concept of the DAS (Duel-Axis Steering) when he first heard about it, but a simulation changed his mind, reports from Germany suggest.

Mercedes' innovation has grabbed all the headlines from testing in Barcelona, after footage showed Lewis Hamilton pushing and pulling his steering wheel, noticed by observant fans who monitored videos on Twitter.

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'It's called a steering wheel, not a push-or-pull wheel'

According to Auto Motor und Sport, Wolff's initial response was: “It’ll never work," and he thought the idea his drivers would have to do three things with the steering wheel would be difficult for them to handle.

He allegedly added: “As a driver, you don't want to pull, push and steer at the same time."

Even though Wolff was not fond of the idea, his mechanics built a prototype for him to try and the the idea of performing all three moves seemed less challenging.

Dual Axis Steering (DAS): What is it, and why is it causing controversy?Read more

“I was surprised at how easy it was, it’s an unnatural movement, but the stroke is short and you're only doing it on the straight.”

However, the system has caused some consternation among the other teams, with some for and others against the introduction of DAS. The FIA has given clearance for Mercedes’ concept to be used this year but it has been banned from 2021.

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