In the case of Sauber’s clever exhaust solution, Red Bull simply rolled out a copy in the days before the 2012 season.

Writing in O Estado de S.Paulo, Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio said the Sauber philosophy makes ingenious use of something called the ‘Coanda effect’.

In the wake of the FIA’s strict clampdown on blown exhaust technology for 2012, the C31 uses the Coanda effect – named after Romanian aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coanda – to legally entice the flow of exhaust to the diffuser.

Ferrari is understood to be the next team set to follow suit.

Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus, however, have a vastly different attitude when it comes to Mercedes’ clever F-duct, which uses the existing DRS rules to redirect air from the rear of the W03 car to the front.

The concept not only significantly boosts straight line speed but also improves handling.

The FIA’s Charlie Whiting has declared that Sauber and Mercedes are doing nothing wrong.

But the three aforementioned teams continue to rail against the F-duct, even leaving open the threat of protest ahead of the Chinese grand prix.

Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko explains: “Lotus, who are very responsible, have discovered two ways in which the F-duct is not in accordance with the regulations.”

So is the difference in attitude when it comes to the Sauber and Mercedes innovations actually about the ease in which they can be copied?

Oricchio quotes Red Bull’s Adrian Newey as having said in Malaysia: “In regard to the aerodynamic (F) duct of the Mercedes, and sending the airflow from the back to the front, it is necessary to review the entire project.”

After rather modest achievements of Mercedes-superstar Michael Schumacher rattled on the 41-year-old world champion last down a lot of criticism. The expectations of many fans and observers could meet the Schumacher after his return to the Formula 1 scene so far barely. Especially after the race in Canada was fulminated against the Germans.

“Schumacher is a shadow of bygone days”, with David Coulthard said this had brought his view of things in the ‘BBC’ comment clearly. The Scot is now presenting in a video interview on the website of Red Bull still for once. The services of Schumacher are not in the foreground, but rather a principled position.
“It’s great to see that Michael is back on the track. It robs the new generation, however, that a place,” said Coulthard. He set himself apart not in accordance with a comeback. “Imagine I can to me, but I’m not going. I am with my Grands Prix satisfied with the opportunities I had. I am part of the Red Bull family and very happy that now the next generation of their gets a chance. “

Lotus will not run a KERS system in 2011, despite the expected return to the grid of the energy-recovery technology for next year.

Multiple sources are reporting that KERS will be back in formula one in 2011, but the new team Lotus has begun designing its next car with no plans to incorporate the boost-button concept.

“We will not use KERS next year and we have good reasons for this decision,” team boss Tony Fernandes is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

“This year we had to buy nearly all the (car) parts from other suppliers but now we are in a position to build the entire car in our factory,” he explained.

“So we are trying to take advantage of the experience we have collected with the current car and to make the project more effective.

“If we were to have KERS, in accordance with the technical working group (decision), we would have to start everything again from zero in terms of weight distribution.

“The big teams are in a different boat, already with solid experience of KERS from recent years.

“What we saw last season is that it is not easy to get KERS to operate effectively and reliably; it took a lot of time, money and resources. At Lotus we are fully confident that we are going to cope without it (KERS),” added Fernandes.

Currently, FOTA’s technical group is finalising the details of the KERS return, with Ferrari and Renault pushing for a 150 horse power boost for 10 seconds each lap.

In 2009, the boost was about 80 horse power for less than 7 seconds.

It is likely that KERS will remain voluntary in 2011 and 2012 until a new engine formula debuts in 2013.

It is expected the return of KERS will be approved formally by the teams this weekend in Turkey, before the matter is referred to the FIA for inclusion in the technical regulations.
(GMM)

May 2 (GMM) Giancarlo Fisichella on Saturday tested a refined version of Ferrari’s own F-duct solution.

The Italian team’s test and reserve driver was at Vairano, where what Ferrari described as the “management system for the blown rear wing” was run along with the entire Barcelona-spec package.

Ferrari said that “depending on how things go in the two free practice sessions next Friday, a decision will be taken as to whether or not to use all the updates for qualifying and the race”.

The updated F10 also features inboard rear mirrors, in accordance with the ban that kicks off in Spain next weekend.

Fernando Alonso told Corriere della Sera newspaper that he thinks Ferrari can catch F1’s pacesetter.

“Red Bull is stronger in qualifying and they are very fast, but we can catch up in the race. (And) McLaren knows how to develop its cars very fast, but we’re not joking either,” he said.

Ferrari confirmed the test in a press release:

Today, Italy and many other countries around the world have been celebrating May Day, but for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro there has been no respite in its efforts to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2010 World Championship. After a very busy week of testing on the bench and in the wind tunnel, this morning saw the on-track baptism of the management system for the blown rear wing. It was tested at Vairano by Giancarlo Fisichella as part of the four days of aerodynamic testing allowed in the testing agreement, as defined by the twelve teams.

This was not the only new element evaluated by the Scuderia’s third driver. The F10 was also fitted with the aero configuration that it is planned will be used at the Catalunya Circuit during next Friday’s free practice for the Barcelona race, including a new position for the rear view mirrors which must now be located on the chassis. The chassis itself is also new, going by the code number 284: as from the Spanish Grand Prix, it will be used by Felipe Massa. Track data acquired today will be analysed by the team over the next few days and then, also depending on how things go in the two free practice sessions next Friday, a decision will be taken as to whether or not to use all the updates for qualifying and the race.

The Brazilian, Helio Castroneves, two times champion of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race is facing in Miami tax evasion charges for 5,5 million dollars earned between 1999 and 2004.  If he’s found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in jail.
His attorney, Roy Black, said in his opening statement that the pilot never pretended to evade his tax payment to the US Internal Revenue Service, and since he ignored that country’s tax laws he’s been forced to hire experts on the subject.
For his part, the district attorney in charge of the case, Matt Axelrod, stated that the 33 year old, Brazilian pilot, believed he was above the law and accused him of not complying with the tax regulations.  Axelrod also accused Katiucia, Castroneves’ sister who is in charge of his businesses, and the sport lawyer, Alan Miller of taking part in the alleged fraud.  ”When he had to pay taxes for the millions of dollars he earned, he failed to do it.  He did not pay,” explained the district attorney.
According to the accusation, Castroneves allegedly wrongfully hid income from Penske Racing Inc. and from the Brazilian firm, Coimex International S.A. (a total of around 5.5 million dollars).  In accordance with the prosecution, Katuicia Castroneves, the pilot’s sister, transferred part of the hidden money to an account in Switzerland which she controlled together with Helio.