Source: Renault Sport Media

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FIA clampdown on exhaust blowing

FIA clampdown on exhaust blowing

24-04-2018 13:38
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Jake Williams-Smith

The FIA have tightened rules around exhaust blowing again after a flurry of questions from teams regarding the concept. Although restrictions were set out in 2014 with the introduction of the hybrid era, teams have been getting a little too inventive for the FIA's liking.

Renault sparked discussion during winter testing with a metallic strip on their rear wing due to their blowing of exhaust fumes upwards near the rear wing of the car. With a number of teams also looking at introducing the concept, the FIA have re-clarified their position on the subject with a letter to teams.

A letter sent out by Nikolas Tombazis ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix details the restrictions placed on exhaust blowing and the flow of such designs.

"We do not accept that engine modes specifically designed to increase the exhaust flow in corners are permissible. Such engine modes can be either specific to a compressor-turbine by-pass system, or to flow passing through the cylinders.

"To be permissible, such flows should be the result of settings that genuinely increase the performance or reliability of the power unit, and not contrived to increase the exhaust flow.

"Notwithstanding the above point, we do not feel that it is practical or easy to write a catch-all rule that achieves this aim in a perfect way. For this purpose, we intend to control the usage of engine modes on a case-by-case basis and provide the necessary requests to the teams in order to stay within the acceptable limits with regard to (the above) point.

"While this is clearly not perfectly satisfactory, we feel it is the best possible way to handle the situation for 2018, especially as the effects are not large in any case.

"One of the objectives of the 2014 regulations was to eliminate once and for all any exhaust influence on the car's aerodynamic performance, and while this objective has been largely achieved, the 2017 rules brought back an exhaust effect on rear downforce, mainly because of the lower position of the rear wing. Clearly this effect remains much smaller than the effects that were commonplace in 2011-2013, but it is still undesirable.

"Regarding the tailpipe position in relation to the rear wing and bodywork, we accept any position within the stated limits of the regulations, it is the right of any competitor to design their car in such way to have the most advantageous installation for their car's performance, provided this installation is indeed within the limits of the regulations.

"For 2019, we intend to overcome this issue by acting on the exhaust position. This matter was discussed in the last TWG, but we do not feel that a sufficient solution was found.

"Hence, we intend to have a discussion on this topic in the next TWG, with the aim to achieve an exhaust position that clearly prevents any direct aerodynamic gain, thus eliminating the need for checks on engine modes."