Adrian Newey believes exhaust positioning could still be controversial in 2012 – Formula 1
Adrian Newey has conceded that he is not ruling out exhaust controversy arising prior to the 2012 season opening Grand Prix.
The exhaust has been quite the subject of controversy since the start of 2011 and although FIA has worked to put an end to the controversial off-throttle blown diffuser but Newey believes it might still raise questions. The issue this year might come over
the angling and positioning of the exhausts.
During the first day of the first pre-season test it was noticeable that several cars had different angles and positioning for their exhausts. Red Bull went so far to put a cover on its rear wing whenever the car went to the paddock. Ferrari and Lotus put
barricades at their paddocks and did not let media in.
“The FIA have been reasonably specific in what they will and won't allow exhaust wise so far,” Newey said. “So they don't want to see full-capture ducts, in other words scooping the exhaust flow up with a fully-enclosed duct and using that scoop to duct
it somewhere else on the car. Plus we have the various exclusion zones where we can't have bodywork and obviously there are limitations on where the exhaust physically can be. As long as you satisfy all of those, then hopefully there won't be too much controversy.”
2011 saw the Red Bull car dominate the season comprehensively because of the blown diffuser but the RB8 will not have that advantage and that has led to speculations that Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel will not enjoy the same dominance.
Newey added that 2010 when the double diffuser’s were banned Red Bull managed to replace the effect they had but for the 2012 season he feels that it has been quite difficult to replace the effect and while conceding that it is a fact that they have not
been able to replace it.
He feels that only time will tell whether the team has done a job better than others, but they have done everything to hone the car in a way to maximise its potential without the advantage of the exhaust.
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