Will blown diffuser ban assist midfielders more?

[John S]

Force India says it should, if so who will lose or gain the most?           
McLaren and Red Bull were certainly struggling at Silverstone, but was that just the diffuser blowing or because engine tech also couldn't cope with the quick rule changes imposed?         

Force India will be one of the big beneficiaries of the decision to ban exhaust-blown diffusers in Formula 1, reckons the team's technical chief Andrew Green. Although the Silverstone-based outfit finished sixth in last year's constructors' championship, Green felt it did not get properly on top of the exhaust-blowing technology so will lose far less from the ban than many rivals.

"We were a little bit late to the party and I don't think we extracted its full potential by a long way," said Green. "I think there are teams out there that extracted way more than we did and hopefully that will hurt them more than it's going to hurt us. We spent the winter trying to salvage back all that downforce that it cost us and we're getting closer."

He believes that the rule change will make F1 more competitive overall. "My feeling is that it should close the field up," Green said. "I think you need to look at Silverstone, where the regs changed for a fraction of a second, and the grid did appear to close up."

By Mark Glendenning and Matt Beer, Autosport.com, Today.

[Dare]

Maybe in the early races but in the end the cream
always raises to the top

[Jericoke]

Maybe in the early races but in the end the cream
always raises to the top

Indeed, there will always be a 'killer innovation' that top teams can spend to get right that the midfielders can't.

[Scott]

I'm not even sure in the short term.  Everyone knew they'd be banned since last year, so the big teams have spent plenty already on other innovations that the smaller teams likely wouldn't have either thought of, or had the cashflow to develop.

[lkjohnson1950]

Indeed. Several commentators have said that McLaren's exhaust area was covered so that you couldn't see what they were doing.

[Jugirl]

I think Force India will still be "best of the rest" but i feel that the big 5 teams will always have that bit more available resources to produce something special through the course of the season.

I must admit that McLaren has me a little worried though

Ju

[lkjohnson1950]

Since the McLarens are not red, whatever they have up their sleeve will be declared illegal. Ferrari will copy it, Charlie will say the Ferrari system is significantly different and they will be allowed to run it. 

[Jugirl]

What are you trying to say IKjohnson.....Ferrari get favouritism.....Noooooooooooo never hehe

Ju

[stealthhaggis]

Judging by the way Ferrari copied the RBR front wing last year I think McLaren can relax!