Raikkonen excluded from Abu Dhabi qualifying
Kimi Raikkonen has been excluded from today's qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the stewards found that his Lotus E21 failed the floor deflection test.
A post qualifying scrutineering found that the left hand side of the floor deflected more than the allowed 5mm when the testing force was applied, meaning it is in breach of Article 3.17.5 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
In the subsequent meeting between Lotus and the race stewards, the team explained that the issue had been caused by a broken floor due to kerb damage, but the stewards did not accept the explanation.
"The Stewards heard the explanation of the team that the relevant part broke upon contact with a kerb. However, the stewards did not accept that the incident referred to constituted an accident, or excused failing the relevant test."
Raikkonen, who qualified 5th, will therefore have to start from the back of the grid. This means Nico Hulkenberg and everybody who qualified behind him will be promoted one place on tomorrow's Abu Dhabi starting grid.
