Sebastian Vettel to use older exhaust layout during FP1 at 2012 Chinese Grand Prix – Formula 1 news
Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel will be running RB8 with older exhaust layout in the free practice on Friday at the Chinese Grand Prix which is to be held at Shanghai International Circuit this weekend.
The defending champions have not been able to find out the full potential of their car in the season so far. Therefore, in order to enhance the pace of the car, they have aimed at using the older exhaust layout specification in the car during the FP1 in
China.
Moreover, it will be important to mention that Red Bull struggled during the last day of the final test held at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona as they could only manage to cover 23 laps and came last on the timesheets, mainly due to the upgrades made
in the car.
Furthermore, they could not secure a competitive grid position after the qualifying of the opening two races of the season. Nevertheless, the double world champion, Vettel secured second podium finish in the season opener at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
However, he could not be able to score even a single point in the second race at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia because of his clash with Narain Karthikeyan of HRT.
Nonetheless, the veteran German driver said that he is focusing on the next race at Shanghai even after the disappointing incident in the second GP.
Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner said that the free practice sessions on Friday will be the best opportunity for them to test and evaluate their car with the changed specifications.
He added that the results will help them in making the necessary preparations and substantial developments in the car for the races ahead.
“We will be conducting some evaluation work between the two cars,” explained Horner. “With testing not allowed during the season, Friday is the best opportunity to do some track testing and we are using the opportunity to look at an earlier iteration of
exhaust and a further iteration of what we ran in Malaysia. Obviously we will then look at the data and then draw our own conclusions from there.”
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