Renault team owner Gerard Lopez has admitted he is disappointed with Nick Heidfeld.

“We expected more from him,” the Genii Capital chief is quoted as saying by Brazil’s Globo Esporte.

German veteran Heidfeld, 34, was signed by the Enstone based team at short notice this year to replace injured regular Robert Kubica.

There is now speculation that Renault is considering replacing him with Bruno Senna or Romain Grosjean.

“I have mixed feelings about Nick,” Lopez explained. “We have to recognise the great contribution he made at the beginning of the season.

“He helped us to develop the new exhaust system which was not easy to understand. It gave us a clear direction in the development of the car.

“Now, in terms of results, there is no doubt that we expected more from him and (we) are disappointed.”

Globo Esporte reported that the Renault team, whose owner Genii is collaborating on a $10 billion investment with Brazilian company WWI, is considering running Senna in November’s season finale at Interlagos.

Nico Rosberg has admitted he has had to delay for now his hopes of becoming a grand prix winner.

The German driver, who contested his 100th formula one race in Hungary, said in an interview with Spain’s El Pais: “No one could win with my car.

“There are three teams – Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren – who are ahead of the others. I need to wait to get a better car.

“Later this year or early next year I will start to think about winning,” said Rosberg.

Mercedes GP entered the 2011 season with high hopes, but Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Brackley based team has now acknowledged that key technical aspects were flawed.

For instance, the W02 car has recently switched to a Red Bull-like exhaust/diffuser layout, while boss Ross Brawn admitted that for 2012 “we will build a longer car”.

Rosberg’s goal for now, then, is to finish just behind the aforementioned three teams at grands prix.

“With this car, to me seventh place is like winning,” said the 26-year-old.

Asked which areas of the car need to be improved, Rosberg added: “Everything. In general it’s the aerodynamics, mechanically in terms of reducing weight.

“The engine is fine,” he continued, “but the blown exhaust system, which is a very important part of the aerodynamics now, can be improved a lot. We’re working on it.”

Red Bull could lose up to five tenths of a second per lap when the exhaust blowing clampdown takes effect at Silverstone next weekend.
But team boss Christian Horner has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons by saying on Austrian television Servus TV that, until now, the RB7 has only been benefitting from “cold blowing”, not the “hot” concept that is so effective when the drivers are off the throttle under braking and in corners.

“In our case, this (effect) happens only with cold-air blowing. Other teams blow hot air and get even more benefit,” said the Briton.

If true, Red Bull’s key rivals might fall even further away from the pace of the dominant RB7 in Britain and beyond.

“How this affects us compared to the others, we will only see at Silverstone. According to our simulation it’s as much as 3 to 5 tenths and perhaps a bit more with some other teams,” said Horner.

Former F1 driver Karl Wendlinger said: “I believe Red Bull’s superiority will be greater at Silverstone. The (exhaust) system is being banned for all but Adrian Newey is a genius in aerodynamics and this is very important at Silverstone.”

But McLaren reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa told EFE news that “nobody has the foggiest idea” how precisely the field will line up in Britain.

“It will have a strong impact and the cars will be slower because of the lost downforce,” he said.

“There is a ray of hope, as we all know which car was the pioneer of the technique and have been able to maximise the performance better than anyone else,” said the Spaniard, presumably referring to Red Bull.

At least Timo Glock is aware of the effect that the clampdown will have on his struggling Virgin car.

“We have never benefitted from this technology, so for us, everything stays the same,” the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

HRT is apparently no longer pushing so hard to have exhaust blown diffusers banned in 2011.
At recent races, the Spanish team has been threatening to protest the results after the FIA vowed to crack down on the technology that has moved into the realm of outlawed ‘moveable aerodynamic devices’.

But ahead of this weekend’s Canadian grand prix, Hispania announced that one of their developments is a “new exhaust system”.

It emerged during morning practice in Montreal that, in collaboration with engine supplier Cosworth, the system is indeed a blown exhaust.

That means that the only team not running a blown exhaust of any type at present is HRT’s nearest competitor, Virgin, who according to Auto Motor und Sport will not be ready to re-introduce a similar layout until Silverstone.

The FIA still intends to push on with the ban, however, with talks scheduled for the technical working group meeting next Thursday.

Asked on Friday about speculation of a ban, HRT’s technical director Geoff Willis told the BBC: “It’s going to be very tricky.

“There may be a solution for 2012, but what we do for 2011 is going to be very difficult in terms of what’s fair for everybody.”

Renault’s 2011 car has impressed leading designer Adrian Newey more than the latest single seater produced by Ferrari.

“The Renault has impressed me the most,” Red Bull technical chief Newey said in an interview with Spain’s El Pais newspaper.

“It’s exhaust system is completely different to the others. I haven’t analysed it deeply but the path they have taken is completely unique and very brave, and that’s always good,” he added.

As for Ferrari’s 150 Italia, Newey said it is “a conventional car”.

And McLaren “have worked hard on the sidepods, which are different, but I think the change is more visual than anything else.

“I think the vast majority of teams chose to evolve their previous cars,” said the Briton.

For that reason, Newey said rival teams subsequently copying the dominant RB7′s exhaust layout is simultaneously “flattering” but also “irritating”.

Sauber has earmarked May’s Spanish grand prix for the introduction of a Red Bull-style exhaust layout.
“We will have the new exhaust system in Barcelona,” confirmed team boss Peter Sauber to Blick newspaper.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Kamui Kobayashi will test the system, tipped to add at least five tenths per lap to the pace of the C30 car, on Friday at Istanbul.

“It will not come to the car until it has been properly tested,” Sauber confirmed.

Teams are cautious about blown-exhaust upgrades, with the latest lesson taught by struggling Williams in China, when its Red Bull-style system burned holes through the floor of Rubens Barrichello’s FW33 in practice.

Like Sauber, the British team will attempt to run the exhaust again in Spain.

“Let’s wait until Spain before we rejoice,” insisted Sauber, “although until now, every innovation has brought us a step forward.”

Like the innovative new Renault, McLaren’s unlaunched 2011 car reportedly also features a trick exhaust system.
That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, after the Lotus-sponsored R31 was revealed this week with the engine exhaust exiting at the bottom of the sidepod area.

“The MP4-26 apparently has the same trick,” said the German report, referring to the car that will be launched in Berlin on Friday.

A report in Italy’s Autosprint said the solution generates more downforce through the flow of air to the now mandatory single diffuser.

Renault has confirmed that the R31′s exhaust layout is the reason for the car’s slightly different engine note at Valencia.

“Renault’s thinking is in the right direction,” confirmed Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn. “We are working on a similar solution.”

Indeed, most teams’ final car specifications will not be released until shortly before the Bahrain season opener.

“There is always a certain amount of nervousness,” Red Bull designer Adrian Newey is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “The regulations we have now are pretty narrow.

“Having a stroke of genius is fairly difficult, but should the competition come up with something, we will respond.”

Last year, rival teams struggled to ape McLaren’s F-duct innovation because the basic chassis had to be homologated at the start of the season.

“That was only for last year,” said Newey. “So now we can respond to things if necessary.”

Mark Webber “regrets” comments he made at Silverstone last week, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Tuesday.

In the wake of the Silverstone front wing furore, Australian Webber issued a lengthy statement backtracking from suggestions Sebastian Vettel is the team’s preferred driver.

“We spoke together quite early last week,” Horner said in an interview with Germany’s SID news agency.

“It was good.  I think Mark regrets some of the comments he made because they detracted from a great team achievement.

“Mark’s performance was first-class, but it was a victory for the team, just as were the ten before it,” added the Briton.

Horner revealed that more spare wings will be on hand at Hockenheim this weekend, but insisted that running a different specification on one car was not such an unusual situation in F1.

“Every team in the pitlane takes decisions, whether it’s Virgin with their chassis with the bigger fuel tank, the F-duct at Sauber or who at Ferrari was allowed to drive with the new exhaust system in Fiorano,” he said.

“You can find a hundred different examples.  Unfortunately, with this decision, many emotions came together.”

He rejected suggestions that Webber will try to find a way out of his 2011 contract.

“Mark knows the support that he has in this team.  And I can’t imagine where else he will want to go.”

Mercedes’ debut of a Red Bull-like blown exhaust layout in Valencia recently “backfired”, team chief executive Nick Fry has admitted.

The Brackley based team has struggled to move forwards with the W01 car this season, and the Briton said on Friday that the Valencia upgrade was a particular disappointment.

“We have tried to copy the Red Bull exhaust system in Valencia and that probably backfired, if you’ll excuse the pun,” Fry told the BBC at Silverstone.

“With the benefit of hindsight we maybe should have stuck with the setup we had previously.”

Fry insisted, however, that the situation will not cause Michael Schumacher to abandon his return to formula one, even though the seven time world champion has admitted he will not win the 2010 title.

“Sorry to the other drivers, but he is going to be around for next season,” said Fry.

Christian Horner has warned Red Bull’s rivals that the exhaust system of the RB6 car is not a silver bullet.

At Valencia nearly two weeks ago, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault got so-called ‘blown rear diffusers’ up and running on their cars.

And this weekend at Silverstone, the concept is part of McLaren’s latest upgrade, with some estimating the laptime benefit at half a second or more.

But Red Bull team boss Horner has moved to play down those predictions.

“Our rivals overestimate the benefits of the blown diffuser,” he is quoted as saying by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“It’s only about two or three tenths,” added the Briton.

The team’s German driver Sebastian Vettel agrees.

“It gives us a bit, but only together with the whole package, and that includes our rear suspension.  That can’t be copied during the season,” he said.

The Auto Plus column of French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet reports that, as well as the blown diffuser, McLaren’s Silverstone upgrade includes new cooling, suspension and dampers.

Ferrari, on the other hand, is not expecting the fast Silverstone layout to suit the F10, even though the new Arena section features some new slow corners.

“The track seems reasonably similar to the way it was, with a lot of very fast corners, which will not suit us that much,” said Fernando Alonso.

(GMM)

In the discussion of the Safetycarphase in Valencia and Lewis Hamilton happy Rennschicksal has now Felipe Massa on. The Ferrari driver also sees a need for action. For he does not understand that it could happen that Hamilton, despite his drive-through penalty he received for overtaking the safety car, was able to keep his second place while he himself kept to the rules and was passed to the rear.

Massa had the date on which the safety car after the accident by Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen went on the air, but also very unlucky. “At the time when the track was completely under yellow flags, we were already in the last corner. And when I saw the safety car sign, I was already out of the final corner and went out to the start-finish straight” , he describes in his blog on the Ferrari website. “I looked in the mirror and saw that most turned off behind me in the pit lane, as they had seen the sign before the last corner.”
“It was all about moments and we had the great misfortune that we had to spend a long time behind the safety car, as Sebastian Vettel was before the safety car, as it came onto the track and Lewis Hamilton decided to overtake it, though that a rule was broken, “Massa adds. Hamilton was then second, third and Fernando Alonso Massa fourth.
Hamilton was able to maintain his second place, as he held until his drive through penalty was enough time to get a head start to build up corresponding to the rear. Alonso and Massa were, however, as it should be, behind the safety car and were passed by the rear. They drove a lap behind the safety car and could only turn to the pits.

While the two Ferrari drivers completed a double stop, drove all the others, they were already on the box, past them. And also because Massa had to wait, was cleared to Alonso, he lost more time. “I’ve fallen back to 18th place and had pinned the whole race to the checkered flag in the transport,” quarrels of the Brazilians, who at the end of the 13th was.
“I do not want to talk in detail about what happened, because that makes no difference because our race was ruined,” said Massa, but said: “It must be what happened, but a closer look. For It is not normal that a person has committed a dangerous situation on the track a serious rule violations such as overtaking the safety car and is not punished for it practically. ”
“We need to talk about it together and do something to make it to such situations can not see a repeat,” he says. “The team told me that there will be next week a meeting of the Sport Working Group. This is good and a sign that the FIA takes on the matter.”

If that would have been Rennschicksal gracious to him, Massa would certainly be able to enter a top ranking. For with his F10 he was quite satisfied: “If I look at the performance of the car over the weekend look, I must say that the updates have brought in the aerodynamics and the revised exhaust system on the F10 is a good step forward. So that we can to fight with the front seats. Now it is important to continue to develop until the end of the season. “

And last year, succeeded the “red bull” on the course in Northamptonshire a double victory. The signs are so good, but is happy not only because of technical director Adrian Newey to forward to the next Grand Prix at Silverstone (July 9 to 11).

For the team headquarters of Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes is 30 minutes away from Silverstone. “So many of our employees the chance to see the race immediately,” said Newey. Whether they will experience a strong performance of the team, the design guru but can not promise yet: “There are so many variables such as the track temperature, so many things that can affect the performance of the team.”
Unlike in Valencia Red Bull will be at Silverstone have no major upgrade here, but only minor modifications, mainly at the front and rear wings. “We were in Valencia with a new diffuser and another F-shaft a few innovations here, all of which have worked well,” says Newey.
“The team has worked incredibly hard and Sebastian drove a great race,” continues Newey. “He brought the car really well through the race, after he blocked during restart after Safetycarphase the brakes and made the left front tire was flat. And it was a great relief that Mark was after his big crash in order.”

Meanwhile it had become difficult to find under the new regulations still tricks that bring a big step forward with it, continues Newey, but he added with a grin: “It is interesting to see how popular our exhaust systems along the pit lane has become! ”

Newey is now but once the first rounds of the Red Bull looking forward to the new section of the Silverstone course. “Like all other teams, we got the floor plan map and simulated,” he says. “But we have to address details such as bumps and Gripwechsel, we know only when we are driven there. It looks good in any case and as I noted at the MotoGP race there, the drivers loved it.”

Christian Horner on Friday accused a “naughty” Ferrari of breaching the “spirit” of the in-season testing ban.

The Italian team tested its new Red Bull-like low exhaust layout at its own Fiorano test circuit last week, under the guise of a “filming and promotional” day.

Indeed, Ferrari did distribute media photos of the event and even a video of Fernando Alonso driving the car with a camera mounted on his helmet.

“It was arguably within the letter of the laws but not within the spirit,” Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, told the Telegraph.

“You don’t just run these cars – there has to be a lot of planning – and it wasn’t by mistake that they happened to run on that day with the new exhaust system,” he added.

Horner suggested that if Ferrari was really just running the F10 for filming purposes, the car did not need to be fitted with its important Valencia update.

“They managed to have a look at it, and they’ve probably learned a bit.  I’m sure there will be a lively debate at the next team principals’ meeting,” he predicted.

“I think it’s something that needs to be tidied up, because it’s effectively a gentlemen’s agreement, and it’s important that that should be respected.”

But it is true that the Ferrari was running with Bridgestone’s ultra-hard promotional tyres, and Alonso said the runs had been of little competitive value.

“I was running behind a car with cameras at 60kph so it was very stable,” the Spaniard joked.

“We did some laps also with no car in front, and ten cameras on the car and on the helmet, so it was not very comfortable to drive, and it was also the first time driving a Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano,” insisted Alonso.

(GMM)

The next formula one team working hard on a Red Bull-style exhaust system for its 2010 car is Williams.

Ferrari will debut low-mounted exhausts, with gases directed through the double diffuser as seen on the impressive RB6, this weekend at Valencia.

McLaren, Mercedes and Renault will soon follow suit, and now it emerges that Williams is to adopt a similar layout for its Cosworth-powered FW32.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the new exhaust system will appear no later than the British grand prix in mid July.

The report said the package will include new wings and a bigger double diffuser.

“We are expecting a big step,” said Williams’ long-time engineering boss and co-owner Patrick Head.
(GMM)

Ferrari has confirmed that a new exhaust system is among the changes to its 2010 car to debut on the streets of Valencia this weekend.

It has been reported that the revised F10, tested by Fernando Alonso at Fiorano and seen on a fan video posted on the internet, features a Red Bull-like layout for the exhausts.

Ferrari also revealed that test driver Marc Gene was at the wheel of the car for an aerodynamic test at Vairano last week.

The low-mounted exhausts, located directly ahead of the double diffuser, are tipped to slice up to half a second off laptimes.

Maranello based Ferrari on Tuesday confirmed that the Valencia upgrade includes “several modifications and updates”, although “not quite as far-reaching or extensive as (the) reports have suggested!”

The team said: “The most significant feature is a new configuration for the exhaust system, aimed at improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the car.”
(GMM)