Haas provide frank explanation of double Monaco quali disqualification

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has delivered a full and honest breakdown as to why Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were disqualified from qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Hulkenberg and Magnussen both reached Q2 and were due to start from 12th and 15th on the grid, only to be disqualified three hours and 15 minutes after qualifying had concluded due to a technical infringement.

Following an examination of the cars, it was discovered that "the uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions exceeded the maximum allowed under [the regulations] of 85mm", according to a stewards' report.

Haas' explanation to the stewards was that the new rear wings for this weekend had not been thoroughly checked, and that there was "an inadvertent error on their part in setting the wing flap gap".

Komatsu has stated there can be no excuses, and that there was a simple communications failure.

"The issue is the wing was designed a slightly different way, and there was a lack of communication from design intention to the guys who do the legality checks on the trackside," said Komatsu.

"Those guys didn't realise this change in the concept, where is going to be the limit, which is both extremities. In previous wings, the limit was always around the centre. So they checked it in the same way.

"It's no excuse, regardless of any information, you should be checking across the whole span. But they just concentrated on the centre. The last bit, on both extremities, it was still wide."

'It's going to be a long afternoon'

Komatsu has refused to point a finger of blame at any individual, or particular group of people.

"From a design intention, with the way we should have set up the wing, it should have been at the maximum with both extremities, so the spines are more closed in an open condition," he added.

"If the designers had made it absolutely clear the design was slightly different from the wings we'd been using, and to check it this way, that would have helped.

"At the same time, even without that information, trackside legality check guys, they should have checked the whole legal surface.

"There's no performance gain, absolutely zero, but that's not the point. The cars should be legal."

Komatsu declared it "a failure of the team", leading to a team meeting this morning to discuss the matter and that lessons are learned. With Hulkenberg and Magnussen 19th and 20th on the grid, the team now faces major difficulties for the race.

"From it, we make sure we don't make the same mistake again," he said. "We can't.

"I had a team meeting earlier this morning to explain that. We have to accept it as a team, take it on the chin, and it's now going to be a long afternoon this afternoon in Monaco.

"We've only got ourselves to blame. We just have to take responsibility and move forward."

Komatsu has confirmed that simple adjustments have been made to the rear wings on both cars to ensure they now comply with the regulations, and that Hulkenberg and Magnussen will be able to compete.