The FIA appears to have waded back into the 'F-duct' debate, indicating that the Mercedes-style solution is fully legal. We reported on Monday that the saga looked set to continue into China next weekend, with some teams - notably Red Bull and Lotus - questioning the legality of the aerodynamic innovation. It had emerged that Lotus technical director James Allison has come up with another argument against the technology that will be posed to the FIA's Charlie Whiting ahead of scrutineering in Shanghai next week.
Christian Horner insists Red Bull and Lotus' concerns are shared by others. "Believe me it's not just Red Bull, I think there's half the paddock that's been looking at this," he told British television Sky Sport's The F1 Show. The Red Bull team boss revealed that Whiting left Malaysia wanting "to have a think about it".
So, the latest development is the re-release via the FIA website of an "edited version" of the technical briefing that Whiting gave to reporters in Australia last month. It is believed the complaining teams' main objection to the Mercedes system is that it arguably uses 'driver movement' - the pressing of the DRS button - to be activated. Under the heading "Pressing the DRS button and the issue of 'driver movement'", the media briefing quotes Whiting as stating simply: "This is specifically allowed (in the rules)."
Mercedes' Ross Brawn is quoted by the BBC: "We call it the DRS, because that's all it is. The purpose of the DRS is to improve overtaking and that's what we're trying to do."
Whiting's stance in China, however, may not be the end of it. "Then the teams are faced with alternatives," Horner explained. "Either accept it and get on it and maybe look at your own solution if that fits your car.You've got the opportunity to protest if we were to feel - or any other team were to feel - that we didn't agree with Charlie's interpretation," he added. (GMM)
FIA still believes Mercedes F-duct is legal
- Published on 03 Apr 2012 09:22
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
What Verstappen really said about his Red Bull futureMax Verstappen has acknowledged his Red Bull contract extension through 2030 comes with a sobering reality: the next ...
28 Aug 2026 16:54 -
Racing Bulls join the macarena wing race with Imola testRacing Bulls are testing their own variant of the rotating rear wing design at Imola during a filmday on Tuesday, acc...
28 Aug 2026 15:51 -
Nico Rosberg issues stark warning to former team MercedesNico Rosberg has warned Mercedes that McLaren has become Formula 1's team to beat, delivering a stark assessment ...
28 Aug 2026 14:50 -
Why Alonso credited himself after Zandvoort chargeFernando Alonso delivered a blunt self-assessment after driving from 18th on the grid to ninth at the Dutch Grand Pri...
28 Aug 2026 13:48 -
Why Max Verstappen's 2030 Red Bull contract might not be finalMax Verstappen's new Red Bull contract through 2030 may not be the career-defining commitment it appears, accordi...
28 Aug 2026 12:47
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 638,839 comments on Mercedes
59 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (0)
Login to reply