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F1: Photos of the tricky exhausts of the 2012 Formula 1 cars (+photos)

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Khatir Soltani
Charlie Whiting, the FIA technical delegate and race director, is attending the Jerez Formula 1 winter test session this week, and the Briton has declared that all exhaust layouts are legal for the moment.

For this season, exhaust-blown diffusers and floors have been banned. The rule says that the final 100 mm of the exhaust tips must point upwards between 10 and 30 degrees and can point sideways plus or minus ten degrees.

But Jerez track action showed that certain teams had been clever in their interpretation of the new rules to maintain some sort of aerodynamic benefit.

For example, team McLaren-Mercedes have fixed the exhaust in the lowest most rearwards position possible, the tail pipe then pointing steeply upwards and inwards. The idea behind this would be to direct the flow of hot gas towards the outer span of the rear wing, and therefore generating more downforce.

Here are photos of the exhaust arrangements of the top teams. Note that the photo of the Toro Rosso was flopped to it appears in the same angle as the other ones.

Red Bull F1
Red Bull RB8. (Photo: WRI2)

Lotus F1
Lotus E20. (Photo: WRI2)

Ferrari F1
Ferrari F2012. (Photo: WRI2)

Toro Rosso F1
Toro Rosso STR7. (Photo: WRI2)

McLaren F1
McLaren MP4-27. (Photo: WRI2)



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada