Exhausts in 2012 - Close to the mark? Or perfectly legal?

Following the ban on exhaust blown diffusers for the 2012 season, the teams have had to come up with new exhaust systems and ideas.

The FIA have said that the final section of the exhaust pipes must be straight and completely round in section, with no internal divisions. This of course means a rethink in design and some teams seem to be sailing close to the mark. In this article we will look at what some of the teams have come up with and then I guess it's in the FIA's hands whether they're legal or not. At the end if the day we as fans just want to see good racing, so we're perhaps not that bothered. Then there is the other side of Formula One, it's a sport of innovation and sometimes it seems that it's stifled too much by the FIA. That's just an opinion though.

So what have some teams done? McLaren, Ferrari and Sauber systems all seem pretty similar ideas, mainly in what they are hoping to achieve for the exhaust gases. They are all trying to get the hot gas as low down towards the wheels. McLaren have gone for an odd design with their exit pipes pointing upwards. Now that may seem a long way from the idea of blowing hot gases behind the wheels, but they have then put in a trough, this will in effect redirect the exhaust gases down towards the cars floor, as they leave the upward pointing pipes. There shouldn't be anything at the end of the tailpipe. So in conclusion to the McLaren system, they may find themselves in hot water rather than hot gases with the FIA on this design. If they don't, then this idea is genius and you have to say well done to the McLaren design engineers.

Now of we look at Sauber (don't worry we are only looking at two examples, so you don't have to read about exhausts all day). This is very interesting. They have tried to replicate the blown diffuser idea, dangerous ground to tread in my opinion, because I'm sure it'll be highlighted in the eyes of the authorities. What Sauner have done is fit two turning vanes to the car. They've placed the upper floor surface. The idea behind this is to keep the seal behind the rear wheels.

A lot of cars are trying desperately to make up the lost rear downforce. They are coming up with ideas, but some are sailing close to the wind, and may find the FIA adding to the regulations again, half way through the season. This isn't something teams or fans want. For goodness sake, let the engineers and designers get on and come up with new ideas. And let the drivers go racing.

Formula One is a technical sport as well as a sport full of fitness and strength. Let's not destroy all of that. If McLaren or Ferrari or anyone else comes up with an ingenious way to harness the gases to gain back some rear downforce then let them be.

There you go, my first rant on my website, it's either going to go down like a lead balloon (who manufacturers these lead balloons by the way? And have they gone bust yet?), or people will agree. I just want to see pure racing by the best drivers in the world and have them driving cars by the best designers in the world, without too much restriction.