Off throttle exhausts are already illegal

May 21 (GMM) Formula 1 threatened to burst into a new controversy on Saturday as the FIA moves against blown exhaust diffusers but it transpires that the systems being used by the top teams is already illegal according to the FIA.

The governing body intends to clamp down on the off-throttle blowing of exhausts by Silverstone according to reports from Barcelona.

However Charlie Whiting, the FIA technical delegate, admitted to reporters late on Friday that the technology is in effect already illegal, due to the wording of the regulations about driver assisted aerodynamic aids.

It means Virgin Racing, HRT and perhaps Williams, the teams not using sophisticated blown exhausts in Spain, could theoretically protest the outcome of the Spanish Grand Prix – a possibility which Whiting acknowledges.

“I’ve made that clear to the (other) teams,” he said. “It (a protest) could happen and then we’ll just take it to the stewards in the normal way.”

That could result in most of the field being disqualified, an outcome that brings back memories of the farcical 2005 United States Grand Prix, when only six cars had tyres suitable to race.

“I’d like to think that probably wouldn’t happen but one never knows. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility,” said Whiting.

The possibility moved closer to reality on Saturday morning, when it emerged that the Virgin Racing cars have in Barcelona reverted to its Shanghai specification exhaust layout overnight.

The back-of-the-grid team has been trying to introduce a blown exhaust in Turkey and in Friday practice in Spain, but Saturday’s news means the car is now technically one of only two or three legal ones in the entire Barcelona field.

Team president Graeme Lowdon confirmed to the British broadcaster BBC that the decision to revert to the old layout is related to the blown exhaust controversy.

“Currently we have no intention of protesting anything at all,” he said, adding that the chance Virgin Racing might change its mind later is “highly unlikely”.

“We’re just ensuring our car is legal in the event that someone protests against us,” added Lowdon.

Ostensibly for technical reasons, Williams was uncommitted late on Friday about pushing ahead with its own blown floor this weekend, while team chairman Adam Parr confirmed that it was the British team that recently asked the FIA about the legality of the systems.

“Yes, we – and I don’t know if we are the only team – but we have checked the situation with the FIA to make sure before we spend a lot of money,” he said.

romeochris 發表於 2011-5-22 20:31

有。其實今年賽事比往年精彩
Stangtjr 發表於 2011-9-11 00:04

Engineer: Michael, we're concerned you might get a penalty for blocking.

Michael: Why?

Engineer: Because Race Control just warned us you were blocking.

Michael: Blocking? Why - it's my own team-mate?

Engineer: No, it's Hamilton. That yellow helmet is Hamilton not Nico.

Michael: Oh (pause) I can't see anything in my mirrors.

Engineer: Are the mirrors broken?

Michael: No, somebody has stuck a nice photo of Kobayashi in the left mirror and Petrov in the right mirror.

Engineer: Can you repeat that?

Michael: Only joking - hang on a second, we're coming up to Ascari ...Yes! And again he fails to take The Schum! Get in there mein Sohn!

Engineer: Michael, you have to stop blocking.

Michael: We are having a nice battle.

Engineer: Charlie doesn't see it that way.

Michael: You know I wonder if I can get him onto the grass this lap...

Engineer: If you don't stop blocking I'm going to get Ross.

Michael: Not listening!

Ross: Michael, this is Ross. You have to leave room for Lewis at Ascari

Michael: There is plenty of room.

Ross: You need to leave a car's width of tarmac, not just a car's width between yours and the barrier.

Michael: This really is a nice lot of fun.

Ross: Michael, you have to leave Lewis room, if you collide-

Michael: He'll get the blame. He always gets the blame for everything. It won't be a problem.

Ross: We had enough trouble with Rubens last year.

Michael: Schum, Schum, Schum Schum, Schuuuuuuuuuum!

Ross: If you don't move over I'll tell people about 1994.

Michael: Er...you know, I think my tyres are going off.

[Ends]