Exhausts up, DRS down in F1 speed search

F1 News
Date: 7/October/2011

The biggest performance gains for F1 teams this winter are likely to come from how well they adapt to the new exhaust rules.

That's the view of Formula One design superstar Adrian Newey, who named the ban on 'blown diffusers' as the most significant design change for 2012.

A bitter row over blown diffusers - which channel exhaust gases under the car to increase downforce - erupted between the leading teams earlier this season.

A messy attempt to resolve the issue through rule changes at Silverstone then produced a public spat between Red Bull and McLaren - prompting a u-turn by the FIA, which allowed the status quo to continue until the end the season.

But from next year, exhausts will need to exit higher up in the car, which should reduce their aerodynamic influence.

"I think the restriction on the exhaust exit position is actually a very big change; it goes through the car," said Red Bull's Newey, whose F1 designs will have won eight world titles, for different three teams, when Sebastian Vettel wins the 2011 crown.

"Other than that, the regulation changes are significant but not huge. So, in that sense, the 2012 Red Bull will be an evolution, it will bear a family resemblance to the RB5, RB6, RB7 lineage," he continued.

The major change for this year was the introduction of 'DRS' rear wings, which can be manipulated to allow a brief top-speed boost if a driver is following an opponent closely enough at the start of a predetermined zone.

DRS has helped increase the amount of overtaking and also been an area of significant development, as teams seek to maximise wing performance with DRS both on and off.

"This was the first year using DRS so for all the teams it was a big learning curve," said Ferrari's technical head Pat Fry. "It was a big opportunity to make a difference against your competitors.

"The rules next year are exactly the same with the DRS so we will see the technology mature more. Probably we will see less differences between the teams in terms of DRS effect. But we will still find more bit by bit."