The FIA has once again deemed Mercedes rear-wing F-duct concept legal, despite complaints from Lotus and Red Bull to the contrary.
The device uses the DRS wing to reveal small openings in the rear-wing endplates when active, which directs air either to the front of the car to stall the front-wing, or out the rear to stall the rear-wing – both resulting in extra straight line-speed.
With the DRS wing being activated by driver movement, both Lotus and Red Bull believe it contravenes the regulation which stipulates a driver cannot influence the cars aerodynamics. However the FIA’s Charlie Whiting disagrees.
“It is completely passive,” he said last weekend. “There are no moving parts in it; it doesn’t interact with any suspension. No steering, nothing. Therefore I cannot see a rule that prohibits it.”
Discussions between the FIA, Mercedes, Lotus and Red Bull have taken place in Malaysia on Thursday, with the governing body deeming the concept legal once again.
The two outfits, and others if they so wish, must either protest the design, or develop their own.
