F1 Teams Ban ‘f-duct’ Device
The F1 teams have decided to ban the controversial ‘F-duct’ aerodynamic device pioneered by McLaren this year.
The device, which increases a car’s speed down the straights, has since been adopted by Ferrari and BMW Sauber but will no longer be allowed in 2011.
It was controversial because some teams felt it contravened the rule that bans movable aerodynamic devices.
The vote to forbid it next year was taken at a meeting of teams’ organisation FOTA in Spain after the Spanish Grand Prix.
Before the meeting, McLaren had written a letter to all the teams saying that they felt banning the system was the wrong thing to do, however their plea was rejected.
The system – which McLaren actually call a ‘J-switch’ within the team – works by channelling air through a hole in the monocoque in the cockpit area through the car and on to the rear wing.
This increases the airflow on to the wing and makes it ‘stall’, ie stopping it creating downforce.
The system is only used on the straights, where the reduction in downforce on the car reduces drag and makes the car able to reach a higher top speed. It is operated by the drivers, who are able to open and close the hole at will.
