Ross Brawn: Mercedes hope FIA will maintain stance regarding F-duct – Formula 1 news
Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn has expressed that they have faith that International Automobile Federation (FIA) will maintain its current stance over the issue of legality of W03’s F-duct design.
“We would obviously be extremely disappointed if someone was to take a different view. The FIA have been fairly consistent over their position so we have faith that they'll maintain that consistency,” said Brawn.
The Brackley-based team has been facing immense criticism on its DRS-activated F-duct design which boosts up the top speed of the car during the race and provides the driver a competitive advantage.
Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher has performed well during the qualifying of the opening two races held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia and Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. However, he could not convert his qualifying performance into a
podium finish and only scored one point in the second GP after securing tenth finish.
Therefore, the difference in the performances of the qualifying and the race, with unrestricted and restricted DRS, provided the ground which blazed the discussions regarding the design of W03.
It would be important to mention that Eric Boullier, the team principal of Lotus threatened to protest the qualifying results of the first race over the legality of F-duct device. Nevertheless, Charlie Whiting, race director of F1, called it to be legal
later.
Nonetheless, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner has been keep on raising questions and asking for further clarifications on this matter from FIA.
Moreover, he said that he has been in conversation with Whiting during the week of the second race. Besides, he expects that they will get the necessary clarification ahead of Chinese GP.
“Charlie Whiting, the [FIA] technical delegate, has been taking it all into consideration and there were several discussions with him over the [Malaysian GP] weekend. I think he wanted to have a think about it and of course we'll respect his position when
he makes that clear to us in China. Then the teams are faced with alternatives,” said Horner.
Conversely, Brawn said that F-duct design is inexpensive but very difficult to integrate into the existing cars. Therefore, the rivals are posing questions over its legitimacy.
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