RBR seeks clarification on diffusers
By Jonathan Noble
Red Bull Racing says it is ready to question the implementation of the forthcoming change to the blown diffuser regulations when Formula 1 teams get together this week to discuss it.
With the FIA having made it clear in Montreal last weekend that it is pushing ahead with plans to ban teams from off-throttle use of blown diffusers from the British Grand Prix, many outfits are currently working on necessary changes to their car designs and engine mapping.
However, with Red Bull Racing being singled out as the team that stands the most to lose - because it is believed to have perfected the implementation of the concept the best – the outfit is obviously eager to ensure it does not lose any competitive advantage it has.
And ahead of this week's meeting of F1 think-tank the Technical Working Group, which is scheduled for London on Thursday, Red Bull Racing says it wants to clear up certain aspects of the FIA's decision to view off-throttle use as illegal.
When asked by AUTOSPORT about if the team had concerns about the impact of the ban from Silverstone, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said: "There are two issues. One is the impact of it, which I doubt will probably affect us any more or any less than any other team.
"But the other one is the mechanism and the understanding behind the technical directive. That is what will undoubtedly be debated in the TWG next week, which is probably the right forum to discuss it.
"There are certain questions that we want to ask about the technical directive that we need clarification on."
The FIA is using an interpretation of F1's aerodynamic regulations, which state that driver actions cannot have an influence the car's aerodynamics, to state that exhaust gasses cannot be blown through the diffuser when the driver is off-throttle.
Although most frontrunning teams are unsure of the impact that the change to the rules will have – with many suspecting it could especially hurt Red Bull Racing in qualifying – Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali went as far as suggesting that the new rule could herald the start of a second phase to the world championship battle.
"We need to see in Silverstone, what is the real effect of this change in the regulations with regard to the effect of the exhaust," he said in Canada.
"Then, we will see really where is the second championship in terms of the level of performance above all in higher downforce tracks."
As well as limiting teams to just 10% of throttle blow when the driver is off the accelerator from the British GP, the FIA plans to outlaw all use of blown diffusers for 2012 through a change in the exhaust regulations.
Credit: AUTOSPORT.COM (www.autosport.com)
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