Teams running off-throttle blown diffusers at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix have been warned that their results on Sunday could be protested by those not running the system.
It is believed that all the teams bar Williams, Virgin and HRT are running engine mappings to ensure a constant flow of exhaust gases to the diffuser even when the driver is off the throttle.
The governing body intends to clamp down on the practice within the next few races, but FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting admitted to reporters late on Friday that the technology is in effect already illegal due to the wording of the regulations about driver-assisted aerodynamic aids.
It means the teams without off-throttle blown diffusers could theoretically protest the result of the grand prix on Sunday.
"It is always a possibility," Whiting said. "I've made that clear to the teams that it could happen and then we will take it to the stewards in the normal way. We have always maintained in all of our technical directives that we have sent for many years now that this is merely the opinion of the technical department, and anyone is free to challenge it in front of the stewards. It doesn't happen very often but it has happened in the past. It can happen and I've told the teams that were pleased that we decided to postpone this introduction that it could happen."
That could result in most of the field being disqualified.
"I'd like to think that probably wouldn't happen but one never knows," said Whiting. "It's not beyond the realms of possibility."
The possibility moved closer to reality on Saturday morning, when HRT boss Colin Kolles refused to rule out a protest from his team.
"I think some teams are running illegally, simple as that," he told Reuters. When asked if he would protest, he said: "Maybe, I don't know. I will see."
Virgin also revealed on Saturday that its cars have reverted to its Shanghai-specification exhaust layout overnight. The team has been trying to introduce a blown diffuser since Turkey, but Saturday's news means the car could be one of only two or three legal ones in the entire Barcelona field. Team president Graeme Lowdon confirmed to the BBC that the decision to revert to the old layout is related to the blown exhaust controversy.
"Currently we have no intention of protesting anything at all," he said, adding that the chance Virgin might change its mind later is "highly unlikely".
"We're just ensuring our car is legal in the event that someone protests against us," added Lowdon.
Ostensibly for technical reasons, Williams was uncommitted late on Friday about pushing ahead with its own blown floor this weekend, while team chairman Adam Parr confirmed that it was his team that recently asked the FIA about the legality of the systems.
"Yes, we - and I don't know if we are the only team - but we have checked the situation with the FIA to make sure before we spend a lot of money," he said.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
Feeds: ESPNF1 Staff - Feedback
No comments:
Post a Comment