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Wolff says new wings won't reduce outwashing effect

Wolff says new wings "won't reduce outwashing effect"

07-12-2018 08:29 Last update: 08:29
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Bobby Vincent

Toto Wolff believes Formula One aerodynamicists hae already found out ways to recreate the 'outwashing' effect which the FIA had hoped to get rid of by 2019.

2019 is set to see some brand new rules and regulations to the Formula One grid, with owners Liberty Media attempting to try and make the competition a lot closer for every side.

They intended to eliminate the 'outwashing' designs, the feature that has been heavily blamed for not allowing drivers to get into good overtaking positions when close to their rivals.

"At the moment it's very difficult for the cars to follow," the Mercedes boss said. "You cannot come any closer, you lose downforce, the tyre loses grip and therefore the overtaking's really bad.

"When you look at some of the junior classes with less aerodynamics, F2 for example, there's some great racing there actually. They are able to come close.

"So the aim was to take away a little bit of the aero. Direct the airflow not around the car - so you create a big hole behind your car, and that's bad - but over the car. But they fight 2,000 aerodynamicists in all the teams and I think we have found solutions that we can get the air again around the car. It's not going to change an awful lot," Wolff concluded.