Helmut Marko says FIA ban to disturb the dominance of Red Bull Racing in the 2011 season – Formula 1
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stated that the decision of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to ban the Blown Diffuser in the middle of the 2011 Formula 1 season is a hint to slow down the leaders, Red Bull Racing.
Marko previously stated that the previous two technologies to enhance the aero capability of the car, F-duct and Double Diffuser, were banned after the seasons concluded but the Blown Diffuser is being banned during the season.
However, Marko also stated that Red Bull team are already looking to minimise the effects of the Blown Diffuser via bringing some new ideas into use.
Although the ban on the Diffuser was going to be much sooner than currently it is, from the Silverstone Grand Prix, the Formula 1 teams showed concerns of changing technology for which the FIA had to stand down.
However, now the ban on the Diffuser is to go ahead from July 2011 and Marko thinks that it has something to do with the dominance of the Red Bull team.
“This time it (the ban) seems to be in a hurry. I would say it is about (the dominance of) Red Bull,” stated Marko.
However, he also stated that the team has tightened up all ends so that the diffuser clamp down does not affect the teams.
He said, “We would not be Red Bull if we did not already have ideas about how to mitigate the effect (of the ban).”
Along with the clamp down on the Diffuser, the FIA has also decided unanimously to ban the engine mapping change from qualifiers to the race day.
Red Bull have taken all the seven pole positions of the 2011 season through a much aggressive engine symmetry in qualifiers but now as the FIA has banned any kind of changes to the engine map during a race weekend, it will be interesting to see how much
speed of the Red Bull team is compromised.
The eighth grand prix of the 2011 season kicks off from Friday with the free practice sessions in Valencia.
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