Above is a video of the moveable rear wing on the Sauber C30. It’s one of the best demonstrations yet of how the new aero feature works on the 2011 Formula One cars. It all looks good in theory, but the operation and guidelines for using the rear wing are complicated.
Each car has a light on its dash display that will be activated during a race by race control to let a driver know he can use his moveable rear wing. Designed to increase overtaking opportunities on straight sections of track, a driver about to be overtaken cannot use the wing to defend his position. So, there’s all sorts of potential for drama with this feature, both on-track and off-track in the form of possible protests and the like.
However, during qualifying there are no restrictions on use. That means drivers will be able to use the wing at any time during a hot lap, including through corners. It’s this aspect that concerns Barichello, the sport’s most experienced driver.
“Hopefully we’re going to get a little bit more of an explanation of how the rear wing will work, because in the first place the rear wing should only work for straight lines to overtake,” said Barichello.
“But people will be tempted to do flat corners with that down. We’re going to see crashes going on. That’s not the purpose. You’re going to gamble.
“Last year we had to raise the knee to make [the F-duct] work, and I went through Eau Rouge with one leg, and that’s not the purpose. It shouldn’t be this way.”
[Source: Autosport]