Double diffusers set for Formula 1 ban

[John S]

Seems a bit weird to force costly changes on the teams for 2011 when they are supposed to be reducing budgets. Will it close up the field and make for closer racing though? 

Formula 1 teams are closing in on a move to ban double diffusers in a bid to cut downforce and slow the cars down from the start of the 2011 season, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The introduction of double diffusers into F1 caused huge controversy at the start of last season, when rivals protested the concept that was used to great effect by Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota in the opening races of the campaign. The matter eventually went to the FIA International Court of Appeal, where the double diffuser was deemed fully legal and other teams had to revise the rear end of their cars to make the most of the extra downforce the design produced.

However, with downforce and car speeds having increased since then - and the diffuser designs getting increasingly more complicated - sources have revealed that moves are now afoot to change the F1 regulations to outlaw them completely. On the back of predictions that the downforce levels of cars will this season potentially go beyond what they were at the end of 2008, teams have decided to take action.

AUTOSPORT understands that technical chiefs discussed reducing downforce levels in a meeting of FOTA's Technical Regulations Working Group (TRWG) late last year, and agreed that the rules should be changed to effectively outlaw double diffusers.

The teams want to create regulations that require the floor to be a continuous section if taken through a longitudinal or lateral plane - which if achieved will get rid of the 'slots' in the floor that have made the double diffuser concept work.

It is understood that efforts are now being made to sort out the wording of the regulations to ensure that there are no loopholes that will allow anyone to continue using a double diffuser.

Once the wording of the rules has been sorted, it will then be put to the FIA's official Technical Working Group for ratification prior to going through the channels required for it to get put into the 2011 regulations.

It is estimated that the reduction in downforce caused by the double diffuser ban would result in the cars being slowed by around one second per lap.

Lotus' chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne confirmed to AUTOSPORT that the move was being made, and it was one he supported. "I think it is exactly right," he said. "It is what we should do, and it is what both FOTA and the FIA are looking at for 2011. I think it is very sensible and very easy to do – just tighten up the regulations and it is done." Gascoyne did not believe that the double diffuser ban would have that big an impact in terms of helping overtaking, though.

When asked if he felt the widespread use of double diffusers in F1 had hindered overtaking, Gascoyne said: "I don't think there was a reduction in overtaking, but the changes to improve overtaking didn't help. And in fact, if you look at the numbers, it was never going to.

"But if you look at it carefully, what the [F1 teams'] aero group set out to achieve it actually did, and if you take the diffuser away it will do exactly what it said on the tin. Unfortunately that will never help you overtake anyone."

Although the majority of teams support the move, some outfits are unhappy about the double diffuser ban because it will mean an expensive redesign of the entire rear end of the car, including the gearbox and rear suspension, for 2011.

By Jonathan Noble, Today Autosport.com

[SennaMan]

Exactly John it is far too wierd.

Dismiss all the hype about downforce increasing too much. That is utter bullsh*t.

This is simply payback to Ross BRAWN for having the audacity and temerity to be smarter than the "big boys" and win the WCC and have BUTTON win the WDC as well; all at BRAWN's first attempt.

The "newbie upstart" made a mockery of the other teams. TOYOTA F1 Team, for example, who in eight seasons hardly ever looked likely GP winners let alone WCC contenders. In fact I consider the BRAWN success helped TOYOTA make the right decision and withdraw from F1 competition.

And a pox on all the other teams who now confronted by a real force in F1, compete by regulation rather than building a better package.

The dreaded one car suits all formula creeps ever closer.

Bah and b humbug!

[Alianora La Canta]

The irony is that Ross Brawn told the other teams about the loophole in a technical working group in spring 2008 and offered to close it then. It was (most of) the other teams' fault for not seeing the potential of the loophole and instead letting Ross steal a march on them.

[cosworth151]

Translation of the new rule from FIA-speak to English:

Ferrari can't make the thing work. That's one of the reasons their car was such a pig in 2009. Therefor, it has to go!

[SennaMan]

Translation of the new rule from FIA-speak to English:

Ferrari can't make the thing work. That's one of the reasons their car was such a pig in 2009. Therefor, it has to go!

very well put cossie - I forgot that all things change [a new president] to remain the same at the FIA [Ferrari Incentive Agency]

 

[Jericoke]

What I'd like to see in F1 is that the cars is that rather than regulate in the individual bits and pieces, just measure the 'wake' of the car.  Mandate that the car can only disturb so much air, so that trailing cars/passing cars don't have to deal with turbulance.  Within that limitation, do what you want.

Hell... I bet that if the cars had ground effects, rather than aerodynics, there would be plenty of more possibility for passing.

[Scott]

I'm with you, but I think it would be hard to police.  The main point I agree with...regulate effects, not technology.  They should do that for all aspects of the car.