Williams targets China debut for own F-duct

[John S]

No real suprise that teams are copying McLaren, shame about the other big teams having trouble with it though.   I really like the sentence at the end, about Virgin, shows there is sometimes a silver lining.

Hot on the heels of McLaren and Sauber, Williams could be the next team to implement an F-duct system, designed to spoil the downforce to the rear wing and boost straight line speed.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quoted technical director Sam Michael as confirming that the British team aims to be ready to debut its version in China mid next month. It is believed Force India is also close to implementing a system, amid rumours that Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes are also hard on work in the design phase.

Renault's team boss Eric Boullier said in Melbourne on Friday that the Enstone based team is not focused on the innovation. Auto Motor und Sport said that due to the chassis homologation rules, teams copying McLaren's system will no doubt all need to use holes designed originally for wiring for the air-flow.

However, it is understood that Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes are having trouble with holes that are not big enough.

It is rumoured that Ferrari has expressed concern that, while Virgin redesigns its homologated chassis to accommodate a bigger fuel tank, the team will also allow for a fully implemented F-duct system.

[Scott]

The teams might have inadvertantly helped the cause of overtaking by spoiling the downforce of the rear wing.  It stands to reason that if the downforce of the rear wing is removed that perhaps the aero wake will also be diminished - allowing for closer racing and maybe even the odd pass?

[FW14B]

I guess that is a possibility along the straights Scott, not sure about coming into breaking zones though as I am sure those F-ducts will be blocked again to allow maximum downforce. 

As for Ferrari, do they know something we don't?  Do they expect to be challenging Virgin Racing sometime this season    They must really not have a development strategy for 2010 if they think they're going to go that far backwards 

[John S]

As for Ferrari, do they know something we don't?  Do they expect to be challenging Virgin Racing sometime this season    They must really not have a development strategy for 2010 if they think they're going to go that far backwards