Teams work hard on refining own F-duct systems

Apr.28 (GMM) Ross Brawn has conceded that Mercedes’ full ‘F-duct’ system might not be ready to debut in Barcelona next weekend.

The Brackley based team introduced an initial “passive” version of the downforce-spoiling rear wing device in China, as efforts to fully emulate McLaren’s innovative system continue at the factory.

Unlike McLaren’s system, Mercedes’ Shanghai F-duct was not operated by the driver, with air instead being cleverly ‘flicked’ at increasingly higher speeds through a slot in the rear wing.

“We’re still working on the proper system which we’re having in Barcelona or Istanbul. There’s no point in having it in Monaco,” said Brawn.

“It is complicated to get to work properly,” the team boss added.

It is a similar story at Ferrari, where only some parts of a full F-duct system appeared on the F10 car in Shanghai.

“We are working on the F-duct and more progress could be made for Barcelona, although that’s not confirmed yet,” Fernando Alonso is quoted as saying by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

“It is not an easy system, but I know the team is working hard to make it available as soon as possible,” the Ferrari driver added.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that a further development of Sauber’s China-specification F-duct will be debuted on the C29 in Spain next weekend.

Williams also had problems with its initial F-duct in Shanghai, and technical director Sam Michael is not expecting a quick fix.

“I expect it will take us a couple of months to get it working properly,” said the Australian.

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