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Red Bull Racing To Consider Rear Diffuser

The barnstorming success of the ‘Diffuser Three’ at Albert Park has prompted Red Bull to consider redesigning the rear of the team’s cars to incorporate the controversial device.
Red Bull were among the three F1 teams – Ferrari and Renault being the


The barnstorming success of the 'Diffuser Three' at Albert Park has prompted Red Bull to consider redesigning the rear of the team’s cars to incorporate the controversial device.

Red Bull were among the three F1 teams – Ferrari and Renault being the others - to protest against its use.

The trio claimed the design was not in the spirit of the new technical regulations. Unfortunately for those protesting, race stewards cleared Brawn, Williams and Toyota to race in Melbourne and Sepang with the diffusers (below), ruling them legal.

That decision has since been appealed, with the FIA to make a final ruling in Paris on April 14.

But should the sport's ruling body decide in favour of Brawn, Williams and Toyota, Red Bull's Christian Horner has revealed his team will adopt the design, citing the huge performance advantage to be gained.

"There is lap time to be gained,” Horner said to the BBC.

"Our guys have done a very good job with the cars over the winter but the diffuser issues open up a development path that was not previously open.

"Previously you were looking at making gains in the front and rear wing but now you can look at the diffuser and the whole underside of the floor.

"That is potentially a big performance gain because the floor is the most powerful aerodynamic tool on the car. We are half a second behind the Brawns and we have to find that time as soon as possible."

Red Bull were one of the few teams to maintain pace with the rampant Brawn machines on the weekend, but the news will be welcome relief to Australia's Mark Webber after a challenging opening race.

The prospect of finally driving a car capable of challenging the front runners will allow the F1 world to finally judge Webber on his merits and, just maybe, he could land himself a race-winning ride.

And perhaps the excuses will finally come to an end... or not.

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