Monday 23rd March 2009

F1 Teams Row Over Rear Diffuser

Row escalates over 'illegal' aero packages

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The new F1 season could kick off in controversial style later this week as a simmering row over the legality of rear diffuser designs makes a stewards’ inquiry into the first results appear inevitable.

The F1 circus arrives in Melbourne already mired in controversy following the FIA’s embarrassing climb-down over the introduction of a new scoring system.

A rule change announced last week would have seen the F1 World Championship awarded to the driver with the most wins and not the highest points tally. It was withdrawn three days later as necessary support within the teams for the changes failed to materialise.

In spite of this rejection by teams, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has pledged to implement the new system in 2010, saying it will be written into the rulebook before any entries are accepted.

Meanwhile, the on-going row over rear diffuser design looks set to come to a head at the Melbourne circuit with Brawn, Toyota and Williams cars all running similar designs that other teams believe fall foul of the current regulations.

Although the diffuser row has been simmering since January, matters appear to be only just coming to a head. Autosport reports the FIA has received at least one written complaint from a rival team, but that it arrived too late for an official adjudication by the FIA appeal court before the Melbourne Grand Prix.

According to FIA president Max Mosley, the most likely outcome is that rival teams will lodge protests after Melbourne scrutineering or following the race, so official results on race day are likely to be ‘pending’ the FIA appeal when it eventually takes place.

[308mate]

Im sure sponsors, circuits, teams and drivers would all rather steer their own ship than have Napolean Ecclestone at the helm.

Why do they not break free? They have the size and marketing power as a group, surely?

[Lordbenny]

All very well telling us that there is a problem with the design of the rear diffuser but what exactly IS the problem with the design?

[cvegas]

This will make the sport a laughing stock. Imagine if the same were true of football and the rule makers could change the scores after the event because a player had too many studs in his boots!

[carsnapper]

The usual F1 disaster returns!

Can't they just have one blinking season where everyone agrees the rules, doesn't argue and the best driver wins?

It's beyond a joke! Give them all a limited budget per year and let them develope what ever technology they think will work best. Standard engines and tires to all teams, the money gets spent on other aspects like aero, braking, chassis, energy regeneration etc...

No wonder the US can't be bothered with F1 when we can't even resolve a set of basic rules!

[Jack Blag]

If F1 wants to retain any shred of credibility as a professional sport, they will need to ensure that cars are passed as legal (or illegal) prior to the start of first practice in Melbourne. To do it after the race would make the sport a laughing stock.

[rhinochopig]

Sorry PH, but what an appalling piece of journalism. You can't run a story about the legalities of an aero package and then not mention why it contravenes the rules.

Come on chaps, you're better than this.

[FourWheelDrift]

rhinochopig said:

Sorry PH, but what an appalling piece of journalism. You can't run a story about the legalities of an aero package and then not mention why it contravenes the rules.

Come on chaps, you're better than this.

Let me guess, it's an apparent advantage so it must be smaller......oh no wait that wouldn't work that would be a disadvantage so it must be..................bigger.

If you want technicalities you won't get them because no one has published them, getting details on new cars diffusers is a little tricky and teams are very protective of their stuff after light-fingered Stepney walked through the Maranello front door whilst security held the door open.

[sstw]

If Brawn win the first couple of races at a canter the diffuser will be deemed illegal and their points stripped, therby keeping the championship close. If Brawn and BMW/Ferrari are reasonably equal the diffuser will be deemed legal, thereby keeping the championship close.

[Podie]

People still follow F1..?

[anonymous-user]

FourWheelDrift said:

rhinochopig said:

Sorry PH, but what an appalling piece of journalism. You can't run a story about the legalities of an aero package and then not mention why it contravenes the rules.

Come on chaps, you're better than this.

Let me guess, it's an apparent advantage so it must be smaller......oh no wait that wouldn't work that would be a disadvantage so it must be..................bigger.

If you want technicalities you won't get them because no one has published them, getting details on new cars diffusers is a little tricky and teams are very protective of their stuff after light-fingered Stepney walked through the Maranello front door whilst security held the door open.

Balderdash, the reason why there is a dispute is out in the open and has been discussed in the motorsport forum and on the other various forums and websites for ages, there are pictures a plenty on where the designs of the various diffusers differ. The article is miles from what happened with regards to the teams situation over the change in points/wins for the championship too.

[IanMorewood]

Trouble is rules are subject to interpretation and there’s no real pre season scrutineering that takes place, so the circus starts and then in a months time we will see whose running a car that’s broken the rules.

[FourWheelDrift]

johnfelstead said:

FourWheelDrift said:

rhinochopig said:

Sorry PH, but what an appalling piece of journalism. You can't run a story about the legalities of an aero package and then not mention why it contravenes the rules.

Come on chaps, you're better than this.

Let me guess, it's an apparent advantage so it must be smaller......oh no wait that wouldn't work that would be a disadvantage so it must be..................bigger.

If you want technicalities you won't get them because no one has published them, getting details on new cars diffusers is a little tricky and teams are very protective of their stuff after light-fingered Stepney walked through the Maranello front door whilst security held the door open.

Balderdash, the reason why there is a dispute is out in the open and has been discussed in the motorsport forum and on the other various forums and websites for ages, there are pictures a plenty on where the designs of the various diffusers differ. The article is miles from what happened with regards to the teams situation over the change in points/wins for the championship too.

Well show them then.

[anonymous-user]

Read this forums threads and the autosport website, or maybe even buy a copy of autosport if you are that interested.

[Dr KT]

For the love of God.

Why can't F1 teams just let it go and admit the missed a massive oppourtunity and just implement the design them selves?

[dafeller]

This is the best available explanation of what's going on:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/03/23/f1-2009-tech...

[anonymous-user]

It's hardly new news too, this was written in February. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73448

[FourWheelDrift]

johnfelstead said:

Read this forums threads and the autosport website, or maybe even buy a copy of autosport if you are that interested.

I'm not really bothered I was purely trying to entertain the post I originally replied to by suggesting the basic reason why. I haven't seen any technical drawings of the Williams, Toyota or Brawn diffusers in relation to the rules so no, no full technical details have been released either. If I have missed them they are likely to be based on a few photos only.

[anonymous-user]

IanMorewood said:

Trouble is rules are subject to interpretation and there’s no real pre season scrutineering that takes place, so the circus starts and then in a months time we will see whose running a car that’s broken the rules.

There is a system in place where the teams consult the FIA technical delegate prior to the first race to confirm the design is legal, this was done by the teams running the "controversial" design and given the OK to use it.

an extract from the Williams article from Sam Michael "It was something that in various forms teams have been doing for two years, so it wasn't really a big issue for us or the FIA. So it was something that we clarified with the FIA well over a year ago."

[Steve_F]

I've been offered a free ticket to Silverstone and not even sure I can be bothered going.

It has been building up over a long time of watching F1 but I am getting to the stage where I really can't be bothered watching this.

If the rules had remained about the new points system I don't think I'd have watched this weekend. As it has been overturned I might watch it to see if there's any excitment at all.

It's a real shame the start of the season is already a joke after the fantastic last race of last season.

[uk nightmare]

sstw said:

If Brawn win the first couple of races at a canter the diffuser will be deemed illegal and their points stripped, therby keeping the championship close. If Brawn and BMW/Ferrari are reasonably equal the diffuser will be deemed legal, thereby keeping the championship close.

So in reallity (Like the last 10 years) If a team beats the Ferrari Fags there cars/driver must be illegal/cheating, but if the Ferrari keeps winning then everthing is fair. NO WOUNDER F1 has gone t*ts up and losing fans by the secound, if only one team is allowed to win. Who says Money cant buy your way in life, cause Faggari sure seem tobe doing a good job, and destorying F1.