Williams may have stolen a march on their rivals after becoming the first outfit to test their top-exiting exhausts for the 2012 season.
The team ran the system which is one of just a few changes in the regulations for next season, in a bid to reduce or totally ban the practice of exhaust blown diffusers when the driver is off the throttle.
The practice has seen widespread use this and last season and was even banned during the Silverstone GP weekend, but later re-implemented following a meeting between the teams and the FIA. A delayed ban was the conclusion of that meeting.
The regulations now stipulate that exhausts must exit at the top of the bodywork.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
Williams ran such a system during the young driver test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday having developed a system compatible with the 2011-spec Williams. The aim of which is to learn as much as possible about how such a layout will effect the rear-downforce levels.
The team are expected to run a programme of 2012 parts in a bid to start next season in better shape than the current one.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
