The FIA met with all the engine manufacturers on Friday evening following news that Renault engines had been given special dispensation to run more exhaust gases when off-throttle.
The manufacturer, which supplies Renault, Red Bull and Team Lotus, had lobbied the FIA on reliability grounds to allow them to run 50% cold-blowing gases when the driver isn’t on the throttle.
Mercedes and Ferrari were allowed to continue running hot-blown gases, but to just 10%, which Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes is more of a benefit than what Renault has been permitted.
“Let’s not make any mistake here, that firing on overrun, the thrust that that generates through the exhaust creates a bigger effect, so let’s just be absolutely clear on that,” he said on Friday.
However, the FIA has now revised the regulations and returned to where we were on Thursday, meaning Renault will be limited to just 10% at 18,000rpm, as will the remaining three engine suppliers – though Cosworth doesn’t take advantage of exhaust gases to the same degree.
Renault and particularly Red Bull were clearly unhappy with the judgement as they believe Mercedes powered teams will have an advantage.
Horner refused to speak to the media, including The F1 Times, as he headed to the FIA motorhome to clarify the situation with technical delegate Charlie Whiting.
A technical directive (TD26), issued by the FIA on Saturday morning, suggests Renault’s complaints came too late and therefore they will return to the regulations which were in place at the start of the event.
“In line with the requirements to provide acceptable SECU configurations to the FIA before the start of the British GP, ie before the start of the Event at 10am on Thursday, we consider any information provided after that time to be inadmissible for this Event.”
The latter part of that statement suggests the rules could yet again change at the next event in Germany.
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