Force India's Andrew Green believes the 2012 Drivers' World Champion will come from the team that adapts best to the new diffuser regulations.
Force India Technical Director feels area will be a key development zone
Force India Technical Director Andrew Green believes the 2012 Drivers' World Champion will come from the team that adapts best to the new diffuser regulations.
In 2009 Jenson Button won the title after Brawn GP got the jump on their rivals by developing a double diffuser, while in 2011 Red Bull's exhaust blown diffuser propelled Sebastian Vettel to his second Championship.
With exhaust blowing banned in 2012, teams are set to lose some of their cornering downforce and Green says whoever can recover most of that lost performance will be victorious.
"One of the keys to this season will be who copes better without it," said Green.
"You'll see a lot of developments around the rear of the car, some quite wacky developments.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see the FIA getting involved at some stage because that area is still open for them to interpret.
"Even we are actively pursuing threads on alternative solutions, so you'll see something emerge."
Crazy
Teams are already looking at ways of harnessing the exhaust gasses within the new regulations, and Green admits a team would be crazy to abandon the concept all together.
He added: "It's a very big drug, and to wean yourself off of it is quite difficult when you see the potential performance.
"You saw what could be achieved last year, so just to ignore it, we would be fools. You don't unlearn things.
"If you've this fantastic energy supply of the exhaust, and we know it responds to the diffuser, then of course we are going to try to put one with the other.
"It's a thread I'm sure everybody is looking at it, and I'll be surprised if it's not everybody.
"The FIA have tried to tie things down, and they've done a good job to be honest.
"It just means we have to think even harder, but there are solutions out there."
