Red Bull boss Christian Horner fears over exhausts rule
Page last updated at 10:53 GMT, Friday, 8 July 2011 11:53 UK
By Andrew Benson
BBC Sport at Silverstone
Horner's Red Bull team are currently top of the constructors' championship
Red Bull have expressed concerns about whether all teams are being treated equally in the latest change to Formula 1's rules.
Their engine supplier Renault is worried a ruling on the use of exhausts to enhance downforce puts them at a disadvantage compared to their rivals.
"The most important thing is it's dealt with with an even hand," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said.
"It has the ability to have a significant effect."
From this weekend, the FIA has banned the use of so-called off-throttle blowing of diffusers, which has become a key technology in F1 in the last year.
This is where teams blow exhaust gases over the rear floor of the car even when the driver is not pressing the accelerator, smoothing the airflow and therefore increasing downforce and grip.
But the issue has been complicated by the fact that all engines work differently, so it is impossible to impose a uniform ruling.
Horner admitted to BBC Sport that Renault were "seeking clarification" from the FIA about the exact nature of the rule.
Talks between Red Bull-Renault and the FIA have been going on for some days, and are expected to continue through Friday.
A definitive ruling must be in force in time for qualifying on Saturday.
"Elements of the car have been optimised around it and when regulations are changed that has a significant impact," Horner added.
"What is most important is there is equality of treatment across engine suppliers.
"The engine manufacturers have been negotiating with the FIA. It's down to the FIA to judge that."
He continued: "This has only come about because of complaints from other teams."
The heart of the discussions is the fact that the Mercedes engine introduces fuel on the over-run - when the engine is being used for braking.
Although the ignition is retarded to some extent while this is happening, this will inevitably lead to some blowing of the diffuser, and therefore the creation of some downforce.
Renault, by contrast, does not fuel its engine on the over-run and wants to compensate by opening the throttles to a specific amount, something it says it has always done to ensure reliability.
The negotiations are centred on how much Renault should be allowed to do that to ensure the blowing from its open throttles equates to the blowing from Mercedes's over-run.
The difficulty is over exactly how much throttle opening equates to a given amount of fuelling on the over-run and the need to ensure both that Renault does not lose out, but also that it is not given an unfair advantage.
Such negotiations are a constant theme in F1, with teams and engine manufacturers pushing as hard as they can to enhance their position, and the FIA trying to ensure equality.
Horner said: "You've got to look at the primary effect of burning on over-run.
"We don't burn on over-run, we never have, but for reliability reasons, emitting air into the engine has cooled the exhaust valves. It's something Renault have done for years."
Credit: BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
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