FIA: F1 teams risk protests over blown diffusers

The FIA ​​has warned teams that use blown diffusers exploiting exhaust gases even when the accelerator is not pressed that they could face an official protest from teams that do not have them this weekend at the Spanish GP.

Although the FIA ​​has decided to backtrack and not immediately ban the solution, the FIA's technical delegate, Charlie Whiting, has hinted that teams such as Williams, Virgin and HRT could lodge an official protest.

“It's always a possibility. I made it clear to the teams that it could happen and then it would be up to the commissioners to decide with the usual procedure. Everyone is free to challenge the opinion of the FIA ​​Technical Department in front of the stewards. It doesn't happen very often but it has happened in the past. For example in Brazil with the brakes, in 1998. We decided to postpone our decision but we warned the teams that it could happen” explained Whiting.

The ban on diffusers using exhaust gases with an aerodynamic function was decided because too extreme solutions were appearing.

“It was clear from looking at the data that something illegal was going on,” Whiting added. “An exhaust system is there to expel gases from the engine, so when the accelerator is not depressed this doesn't happen, plus the driver's movement is used to influence the aerodynamics of the car. Exhaust blowing certainly isn't a new thing, it's been happening for years, but I think Red Bull took it to another level with the low exhausts at the start of the year, and it's become increasingly clear that with it was necessary to intervene on the engine maps".

Whiting admitted that it was a team that fed the FIA: “We often react if a team asks us for clarification. This was also the case in this case but the team in question asked us not to reveal their name."