Williams will try a developed version of its F-duct system at the Valencia street circuit this weekend.

The British team’s interpretation of the McLaren-like concept first appeared in China, but technical boss Sam Michael said then that he expected it to take “a couple of months” to perfect.

Very little about Williams’ F-duct – called the ‘blown rear wing’ by the Grove based team – has been heard since.

But on Monday, the team announced that the innovation will feature on the FW32 alongside some other new parts at the European grand prix.

Williams, however, referred in the media statement to its Valencia-spec F-duct as “the development blown rear wing”, indicating that the component may not be fitted for qualifying or the grand prix.

“We’ll have more new parts for this race but we’ll have to wait and see what improvements they bring to the car,” said driver Nico Hulkenberg, whose teammate Rubens Barrichello won at Valencia in 2009 at the wheel of a Brawn.

Hulkenberg added: “We are inching a bit closer to the top ten, as we showed in qualifying in Montreal, but we have to continue pushing and gain more tenths to get into the top ten consistently.”

(GMM)

Mercedes, McLaren and Renault look set to become the next formula one teams to emulate the unique exhaust layout of Red Bull’s 2010 car design.

With the RB6 proving the most consistently competitive chassis of the 2010 season so far, it has emerged that Ferrari’s Valencia-spec upgrade features low-mounted engine exhausts.

Rival engineers believe the layout, pioneered by Adrian Newey, allows air to be channelled more efficiently into the downforce-producing double diffuser.

The benefit, with also the fast-moving exhaust fumes channelled through the diffuser, is believed to be up to half a second per lap.

“We have a reasonably big upgrade that we are fighting to have for Silverstone, and if that is there then I would be disappointed if it is not a much bigger step than that,” said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

And on the Auto Plus blog of the respected French journalist and commentator, Jean-Louis Moncet said Mercedes’ W01 car will also be modified for the new exhaust philosophy by the time of the British grand prix in July.

It is believed that, while the new Mercedes might even be ready for the streets of Valencia this weekend, a similar upgrade by Renault is also in the works.

Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry admitted that the Brackley based team is focusing on improving its F-duct system as well as implementing “the special exhaust system” seen on the Red Bull.

“If we can get both of those things on the car then we’ll be in a lot better position,” he said.

Team boss Ross Brawn has also admitted that “aspects” of Red Bull’s RB6 car will appear elsewhere in pitlane “over the next races”.

“For instance, I know that everyone is looking with interest at their exhaust system,” he confirmed.

(GMM)