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[Gaz]

Monday 1st March 2010

The diffuser war of 2009 could rear its head this season as Formula One awaits the rumoured introduction of Mercedes GP's new super diffuser.

Throughout the final week of pre-season testing, speculation was rife in the Barcelona paddock that Mercedes GP, headed up by Ross Brawn, would unveil a new diffuser design at the season-opening race in Bahrain, which could give them a healthy advantage over their rivals.

And although the team has confirmed that major upgrades are on the agenda, they have refused to confirm rumours of the diffuser.

"We have a new package for Bahrain and I hope that's going to make the difference," said Brawn while Nico Rosberg revealed that "the car will make a big step forward in Bahrain. It'll be almost like a new car, so everything might be completely different once we are there."

The team's refusal to acknowledge the diffuser - or test it at Barcelona - has some questioning whether the rumours have any substance to them.

"I do not know what Brawn (Mercedes GP) will have in Bahrain, but we'll see if it really is something new," Ferrari's Fernando Alonso told El Pais newspaper.

"For me, it is just a rumour, like many others. Like for the past year it has been said that Renault is going to leave Formula One."

But, if it's not just buzz and Mercedes GP do seize the advantage, there could be a repeat of last year's diffuser war as team's squabble about the grey areas in the Formula One regulations.

In fact, even Brawn admits there could be technical wars between the teams going into the new season.

"In the last months we have asked many things of (FIA race director) Charlie Whiting to know if they are permitted or not. Some equipment has been taken to the edge of the regulations and could have problems," admitted Brawn.

Just when we thought it was going to be a close season we might have another 2009

I hope this is just buzz talk.

[cheekybru]

well they shouldnt be allowed a super diffuser if all the rest have only got a normal one

[antoniob]

you mean just when you thought its safe to go back in the water a new breed of shark is born. lol it will be great to see brawn or rather MGP run away from the crowd once more for half a season.

[headless]

If they are smart enough and everyone else isn't then there we go.

[texasmr2]

I guess we will just have to wait and see .

[7UpJordan]

For all we know this diffuser rumour could be just hot air... quite literally.

[Balkan_scouser]

even if it was true it would be like a kid going to his dad and while crying saying "dad, he's got a bigger bike than me".
...wishing they thought of it first.

[texasmr2]

Ross is a genius and atleast he has been counseling with Charlie and is aware they MIGHT have issues, very smart move imho.

[Jabberwocky]

Ross is a genius and atleast he has been counseling with Charlie and is aware they MIGHT have issues, very smart move imho.

They did the same last year with the double diffuser issue iirc

[texasmr2]

Ross is a genius and atleast he has been counseling with Charlie and is aware they MIGHT have issues, very smart move imho.

They did the same last year with the double diffuser issue iirc

I'm pretty sure you are correct which amplifies my opinion that Ross is a genius .

[Stealthgate007]

I don't believe Macca and Ferrari will fall for the Banana in the Tailpipe again... No team for that matter..

[darwin dali]

Hm, does the sly fox have another ace up his sleeves? I wouldn't put it past him. And if it's approved by the FIA, fair play to him.
To some of the critics that 'fear' another diffuser debacle with a run-away team like last year: don't you think it hypocritical to on the one side claim F1 is all about engineering, development, pinnacle, progress while bemoaning the iron-fist FIA regulations that allow for fewer and fewer parts of distinction and development, but then on the other side turn around and criticize a team that found a loophole to apply their engineering prowess in an innovative, dare I say revolutionary fashion?

[bud]

Good on them i say.

[LifeW12]

"superdiffuser-gate"

[Stealthgate007]

fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice....

YOU DON'T GET FOOLED AGAAAAAAIINNN!!!
-George Bush

If each of the big four don't have a bolt on trick diffuser waiting in the wings then they learned nothing from last year. You can say cost this, and savings that, Blah Blah Blah...

but I bet all the teams who had single diffusers last year spent more money chasing double diffuser development than they would have doing the same in the off season..