Claims made by Lotus and Red Bull regarding the illegality of Mercedes’ F-Duct have been dismissed by Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA.
This fascinating device operates solely when the Drag Reduction System (DRS) is activated in the cars driven by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.
When DRS is engaged, it opens an extra slot in the rear-wing endplate, providing an increase in top speed.
F1 commentators believe that the F-duct could potentially stall the front end, as it changes the airflow over the car’s front wing and through the W-duct, which many teams utilize to modify airflow at the front wing.
The innovation from Mercedes represents an advancement of the now-banned F-duct from 2010; that version required drivers to obstruct a hole in the cockpit with their hand to stall air moving over the rear wing and lower drag.
The FIA forbids any aerodynamic devices that the driver operates or that contain moving parts (the only exception being the DRS). This component has been classified as legal since its functionality is completely passive.
Following the FIA’s approval, it’s anticipated that copies will be incorporated into Red Bull, Lotus, McLaren, and Ferrari cars during the initial European races.
by Terence Johns
