FIA warns against using unusual engine modes

The tweak comes after the RS18's upward-sloping exhaust at the rear sparked plenty of reaction during winter testing. The design is clearly intentional, as evidenced by the presence of a heat-resistant material on the lower flap of the fin.

Renault was quick to defend his concept by explaining that the exhaust was within the limits defined by the technical regulations. The FIA ​​does not say otherwise but Whiting wants to prevent the return of concepts similar to that of the blown diffusers which shook the end of the era of naturally aspirated V8 engines and pushed the governing body to intervene.

« We were a little worried about the blown exhaust last year as there was some benefit to be had in this area with the fins located 150mm lower than the 2016 season, Whiting said during a media session with the British press, in comments reported by crash.net.

That's why we put the exhaust in the middle with a minimum angle, but then the teams managed to build 'monkey seats' and these kinds of devices which we banned by changing the rules regarding the bodywork this season. But there is always a small window of opportunity and you know how teams work: as soon as you take something away from them, they try to get 10% back to continue exploiting it.

I think that (Renault) will get minimal gain from the concept and I don't see any problem with their design, as long as we are certain that they are not using any unusual engine mode, any mode that would not be normal. »