F1: Mercedes F-duct 'promising' after Friday debut

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From GMM

Mercedes debuted a McLaren-like F-duct system on Michael Schumacher's car on Friday morning in China.

Team reserve driver Nick Heidfeld said a decision has not been taken about whether the device, activated in the cockpit by the driver and designed to spoil the downforce to the rear wing on straights, will stay on the W01 for qualifying and the race.

Photo: Mercedes GP

"It is now being analysed to see whether we use it on both cars for the rest of the weekend," Nick Heidfeld told the German broadcaster Sky. The 32-year-old said he thinks the system works well, after the wind tunnel data looked "promising".

Meanwhile, unlike the sidepod-mounted inlet on the Sauber, and McLaren's on the upper monocoque, Ferrari's new F-duct system lets air in via the actual engine cover itself. The team said the one running on Alonso's car in China is "not the complete one".

Regarding Williams , it emerges that the team did not use its own new F-duct on Friday morning, apparently because the parts were held up in Europe due to the Icelandic volcano smoke cloud.