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Christian Horner calls for better fuel-flow measuring system after more Red Bull issues

World Champions point to another sensor failure at Sepang

Christian Horner and Charlie Whiting

Christian Horner has insisted that it is in the interests of Formula 1 that a more robust solution for measuring fuel flow rates is found, after Red Bull suffered another sensor failure during Friday Practice at Sepang.

With the issue clearly not going away, FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting was joined by the governing body's Head of Powertrain, Fabrice Lom, for a press briefing later on Friday. Although the pair would not discuss the Red Bull case specifically, Whiting insisted the Technical Regulations made it clear that the sensor should measure fuel flow rather than a team's own calculation. "Article 5.10 makes it quite clear in my view that that the only way that the fuel flow will be measured is with the homologated sensor and as you know Gill is the only sensor that is homologated," he said. "So for me it's perfectly clear." Ricciardo's car was adjudged not to comply with Article 5.1.4, which simply states that 'fuel mass flow must not exceed 100kg/h'. However, Article 5.10.3, referred to by Whiting, says: 'Homologated sensors must be fitted which directly measure the pressure, the temperature and the flow of the fuel supplied to the injectors, these signals must be supplied to the FIA data logger.' Red Bull claim they were always within the 100kg/h limit and will argue next month that the Technical Directive they ignored, in which Whiting instructed teams to apply an offset to an inaccurate sensor, has "non-regulatory value". Meanwhile, Lom insisted that, "We are working every day to make it improve; it is our target to be as fair as possible. "I think with this sensor, we do a much better job than without, by far. We will improve it, but it is much better than anything I know about."

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