21/04/2009
NEWS STORY
After a disappointing weekend which saw his team fail to score a point for the second time this season, BMW boss Mario Theissen's attention is still focussed on last week's diffuser appeal.
"The Chinese Grand Prix weekend had not even begun when the course for the future was set," he told the BMW website. "When it came to the disputed 'double-decker' diffusers, the FIA appeal court reached a different conclusion to that of 70 percent of the teams, who were of the opinion that this design doesn't comply with the 2009 regulations.
"Obviously, this decision is a disappointment for us," he admitted, "but we will accept it nevertheless. At least how the regulations have to be implemented in this area has been finally clarified.
"However, the reduction of downforce and cornering speeds that was supposed to be the result of the Overtaking Working Group's contribution to the composition of the regulations has not been achieved due to this decision. At the same time, the appeal-court ruling forces seven teams to make major investment in order to redesign their cars accordingly. It is an expensive, tricky and time-consuming task.
"The fact is, whenever a grey area is discovered in the regulations, the wording should be unequivocal. A Formula 1 car is the most complex piece of sports equipment on earth. Consequently, it simply isn't possible to describe every single detail exactly in words. However, other than words, we don't have another tool to try to avoid such cost excesses and disruptions.
"It goes without saying that we began working on the design of a new diffuser several weeks ago," he continues. "This work represents an interplay between our design department and the aerodynamicists.
"The diffuser is the rear end of an entire aero package beneath the car. The concept is complex and only works if all the components up-stream - in the front area of the car - also are fully integrated. At the end of the day, it takes a far bigger effort than just copying a component and fitting it to the car. To channel the airflow beneath the car to the rear in a way that a double-decker design diffuser really produces more downforce, the entire aero package - from the front wing to the rear - has to be fully revised.
"Several teams contested the race at Shanghai with modified cars, others announced that they will do so in Bahrain. Our staff are working flat-out. As planned, we will travel to Barcelona with a new aero package. Nonetheless, it has not yet been determined to what extent a modified diffuser solution will be integrated there."