McLaren considers Mercedes AMG style F-duct for MP4-27 – Formula 1 news
McLaren is considering to launch new DRS-managed F-duct design of Mercedes in its own car MP4-27 for the forthcoming 2012 Formula 1 season setting off at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday.
Many contenders in the paddock before the first Grand Prix have already noticed Mercedes novel design, this weekend.
The innovative device by the Brackley-based team boosts up the top speed of the car on track in the Drag Reduction Zone (DRS) when the rear wing is opened to activate it.
Eric Boullier, the team principal of Lotus along with the defending champions, Red Bull Racing believed that the new device by the team Mercedes was illegal and asked the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to make the clarifications regarding the
regulations of F-ducts, on Saturday.
Moreover, Lotus said that they might make objections concerning the results of the qualifying but the team principal of McLaren, Martin Whitmarsh believed that the system was not illegal.
“There is an exception for DRS mechanisms and I think it's part of that,” he said on Saturday night. “I think they've used that exception be able to operate an F-duct type device. Looking at the regs that is what I think, but I'm sure others will take a
deeper look than I have.”
It would be interesting to mention that Whitmarsh said that they were in view of introducing their own version of the device for this season, if it could work within the car’s present setup.
“With regards to the DRS activated F-duct controversy, we are looking at some of those ideas,” he said. “I think there are some interesting things and one would imagine they would feature on cars as the year progresses.”
Furthermore, he said that in their efforts to attain the benefit of the device they first need to make sure that it would not interfere in the basic essential performance of the aerodynamic components in the car.
Nevertheless, he said that they had really talented group of engineers who had great understanding about the system and they could make sure that everything would be at its right place to get the most out of the car.
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