FIA announcement signals end of diffuser debacle?

F1 News
Date: 14/July/2011

Off-throttle blown diffusers will continue to be used in Formula One until the end of the 2011 season, the FIA confirmed on Thursday.

The sport's governing body made what turned out to be a messy attempt to stop teams enhancing their 'off-throttle' exhaust gases for aerodynamic reasons at the recent British Grand Prix.

That ban resulted in a public war of words between the title leading Red Bull (Renault) and McLaren (Mercedes) teams over concessions granted, on reliability grounds, to their respective engine suppliers.

The regulations were modified repeatedly during Silverstone practice and, with no quick cure in sight, the FIA finally suggested teams should race under the same regulations as the previous Valencia round, until the end of the year.

Unanimous agreement has now been reached on that proposal, ending speculation that the Ferrari-powered teams, which seemed to gain most at Silverstone, might sink the deal.

"All cars will run under 'Valencia' conditions for the remainder of the season," said an FIA statement.

'Valencia' conditions mean that restrictions on special qualifying engine maps will remain in place, but that there will be no limits on the use of off-throttle blown diffusers.

"We are optimistic that there will be no protests over any engine mapping and exhaust tailpipe issues this season. In addition to the main part of the agreement reached in the TWG meetings it was also agreed that no team would raise a protest against another on these matters for the rest of the season," the statement added.

Blown diffusers of any sort - on or off throttle - will now disappear at the end of the year, due to future rules which will force exhausts to exit on top (rather than underneath) the car.

"The teams have already agreed to strict constraints on exhaust tailpipe position which will result in them exiting the bodywork much higher up and no longer in the vicinity of the diffuser. Therefore, any aerodynamic benefit from exhaust gas flow over bodywork will be kept to an absolute minimum," said the statement.