[cheesypeetyz]

The FIA has a history of changing things mid season, e.g. the Bridgestone tyres which were 'too wide', the Renault mass damper etc, and it always comes across as them interfering with the championship outcome.

[boiffrona]

The FIA has a history of changing things mid season, e.g. the Bridgestone tyres which were 'too wide', the Renault mass damper etc, and it always comes across as them interfering with the championship outcome.

It was the Michelin's which were 'deemed' too wide.

[zlopikanikanza]

makes sense to me, they've allowed the "innovation" for a while (about a year) and it looks set to continue for a few more races yet, but as with all these things people catch up and the playing field levels, so those who have been clever and made an advantage from it have had their cake.

its also not the most sensible idea in the 1st place. Sure the blown diffusers themselves are a brilliant use of the waste exhaust gases, therefore are an efficient use of air previously lost. but with the engine overrun function, its not waste air being used, but additional exhaust gas that is only being used for the function of blowing the diffuser. Not the best use opf the engine and fuel, which are primarily there to power the car forward, not to provide extra gases when the throttle isn't being used.

I agree with James Allen on this one, it not efficient (unlike the base blown diffuser concept), and has zero relevance to any other application, be it on the road or elsewhere. best put a stop to it now or soon and let the teams spend the money on another new innovation, which they will

[IronpumpedLady]

makes sense to me, they've allowed the "innovation" for a while (about a year) and it looks set to continue for a few more races yet, but as with all these things people catch up and the playing field levels, so those who have been clever and made an advantage from it have had their cake.

its also not the most sensible idea in the 1st place. Sure the blown diffusers themselves are a brilliant use of the waste exhaust gases, therefore are an efficient use of air previously lost. but with the engine overrun function, its not waste air being used, but additional exhaust gas that is only being used for the function of blowing the diffuser. Not the best use opf the engine and fuel, which are primarily there to power the car forward, not to provide extra gases when the throttle isn't being used.

I agree with James Allen on this one, it not efficient (unlike the base blown diffuser concept), and has zero relevance to any other application, be it on the road or elsewhere. best put a stop to it now or soon and let the teams spend the money on another new innovation, which they will

I really do hate when innovation gets stifled. IMO the FIA has no business regulating the blown diffuser situation.
and I don't agree with Allen either. I don't care if it doesn't have real world applications. That is not why I watch F1.

Teams should be left alone to develop their own stuff and if it falls within the guidelines then so be it.
I have zero interest in watching a completely homologous series, zero!

[GroosteFoessy]

But the financial argument does, or at least should, hold some water, surely? F1 cannot continue to be so profligate.

[Agrisalia]

Innovation is self-policing. When the cost factor exceeds the benefit the manufacturers won't do it.

[Plaumpholavup]

Innovating ideas should not be shifted on the basis of a team running away into the lead of the championship. Openly or not, there is a probability that previous (and perhaps this) technical revamps and revised legality of 'innovating parts' has been done on (or at least influenced by) that basis. If other teams need to catch up with the leaders, for example Red Bull, then it is their job to come up with an idea which, of course, they eventually will. Look at Force India. A midfield to back of the pack team in 2009 (think it was that year) who raked up a second place finish at Spa and another great result at Monza due to the way their cars worked on those fast tracks. It is groundwork like this that teams build on to improve their results and I personally believe that the FIA INTRUDING on that mechanism is unfair on the winning teams, who have put effort and thought into coming out with the great ideas that they do.

The arguments regarding environment, finance and safety are far more solid. Unfortunately, the way I see it (and call me cynical if you please) these reasons are used, at times, to blotch over the true reason which I've stated in the previous paragraph.

[qd0vhq4f]

I don't buy the financial factor. From what I read "Red Bull" doesn't have bigger budget than Ferrari or McLaren-Mercedes, yet they come with good concept. So it's not only about the money. Well, if for other teams is expensive to REDESIGN their cars... well, they won't do it, and Red Bull will rightly benefit from their effectiveness.

[zlopikanikanza]

coming up with a concept is cheap, designing your car around something is also far cheaper than trying to copy and adapt your existing design to make the best of it, i'd wager that the rest of the grid spent far far more money trying to get the F-duct working on their cras than McLaren did coming up with the idea and deiosgning the car to suit. The same goes for Red Bull and the off throttle blown diffuser, ideas cost nothing, innovation is great, but it can get out of control when everyone spends a fiortune copying it. As it stands most of the top teams have a credible version of the system, so the advantage of the innovation is no longer there, so it makes sense that Red Bull have had their competitive advantage from the system and now others are catching up it can be banned without penalising the innovator.

I still have the opinion that the blown diffuser is genius and great use of an otherwise waste product, but the off throttle map way of keeping the system "on" is just wasteful.

An easier way to police this would be do tighten the fuel limits so you can't afford to burn 10-30% extra fuel on anything other than making the car go forwards.

[boiffrona]

An easier way to police this would be ......

....... to place FIA mandated and monitored flow sensores at the exhaust exit and measure it in conjunction with throttle position - even Charlie could manage to police that successfully*

*probably

[GECEDEANY]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91475

This is garbage. Seriously, what's the point of being innovative if you're going to get kicked to the curb? F1 needs to establish what kind of series it is because I'm getting tired of watching Formula 3 Deluxe.

Edit: Man, I'm pissed. Red Bull Racing has their whole car built around this concept and they get shafted. F***! Dude, this is bull****. This is so irresponsible by the FIA because they didn't pull this card when Brawn GP decided to bend the rules and race with a double diffuser.

They should change the name from Formula One to Formula Regulated...

[boiffrona]

They should change the name from Formula One to Formula Regulated...

Formula rules for One and different rules for the others.......

[GECEDEANY]

[tarmpriopay]

It was bound to happen at some point, I just hopped they will use some common sense and do it after the season's end.

[noingenah]

Interesting update that I got on SpeedTV watching practice for Spain.

They state that the way this all started was as a technical note for rules clarification. The draft by Charlie Whiting stated (according to them) that by introducing the engine to manage aerodynamics the teams have breached regulations already in place. In effect they claim he has stated that by having the engine involved in aero matters that there is a movable aerodynamic device. This coming from an organization that now allows DRS, a movable aerodynamic device.

I'd like to see the actual email/letter/memo word for word if anyone comes across it. Until then, this entire thing smells of mass damper to me.

[seooptiman]

One of the teams went ahead and snitched on Red Bull.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91554

According to this article, there is a snake on the paddock that stuck is ugly head where it didn't belong. Another thing I want to point out is that nowhere in my original post did I ever state that the blown diffuser would be banned, but rather that the rules on its use would be more stringent. Still think it's bull****!

[zlopikanikanza]

there have always been rules in F1, they've always been subject to change and they've always been regulated, there is nothing new here. I agree the timing isn't great, but i can't see it having a massive effect on the running order

[IronpumpedLady]

One of the teams went ahead and snitched on Red Bull.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91554

According to this article, there is a snake on the paddock that stuck is ugly head where it didn't belong. Another thing I want to point out is that nowhere in my original post did I ever state that the blown diffuser would be banned, but rather that the rules on its use would be more stringent. Still think it's bull****!

one team comes to mind...williams

[Yessaniloas]

one team comes to mind...williams

I would put money on them too.

[tarmpriopay]

Interesting update that I got on SpeedTV watching practice for Spain.

They state that the way this all started was as a technical note for rules clarification. The draft by Charlie Whiting stated (according to them) that by introducing the engine to manage aerodynamics the teams have breached regulations already in place. In effect they claim he has stated that by having the engine involved in aero matters that there is a movable aerodynamic device. This coming from an organization that now allows DRS, a movable aerodynamic device.

I'd like to see the actual email/letter/memo word for word if anyone comes across it. Until then, this entire thing smells of mass damper to me.

This enforces my views on Charlie. What a tool.