Apr.15 (GMM) Almost half of the field is expected to be running an 'F-duct' in Friday practice in China, but current pacesetters Red Bull will not be among them.
Alongside innovators McLaren, it emerged on Thursday that Sauber, Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari will be using similar driver-activated air inlet systems, to stall the downforce onto the rear wing, in Shanghai.With its Mercedes engine already more powerful than the Renault, the device is giving McLaren a substantial straight line advantage over Red Bull.Designer Adrian Newey has admitted to working on an F-duct for the RB6, and German Vettel said on Thursday that he hopes it is ready soon.Asked whether it will be on the car in Barcelona, he answered: "I hope so."China is the last flyaway race for a while, with a number of grands prix in Europe to follow. Hopefully we'll have it (the F-duct)."We have no fixed date. Like all the others, we're working on it," Vettel revealed.He said the system can deliver up to half a second per lap, which is a potential development that no capable team can ignore.But "it's not easy (to integrate quickly), because McLaren worked on it in the development stage for a long time," said Vettel.
