 Mercedes immediately withdrew CLR No. 4 from the event as the race was only a few hours from beginning . Norbert Haug , head of Mercedes @-@ Benz 's motorsport activities , contacted Adrian Newey , chief aerodynamicist of the McLaren Formula One team , for consultation on modifying the remaining CLRs to prevent further accidents . The drivers were also consulted on whether they believed the cars were too dangerous to race ; Bouchut felt that the front of the car could become light at high speeds and voiced his concerns to the team , but other drivers had not felt this issue with the cars . Mercedes opted to make modifications to the front bodywork of the two remaining cars by adding dive planes to the fenders for increased downforce but sacrificing overall top speed . The drivers were also instructed not to follow other cars too closely . 
