Wings set for Melbourne practice test

With the governing body keen to ensure that the rules are a success, F1 race director Charlie Whiting said on Tuesday that discussions will take place with teams to see whether or not a section of practice should be devoted to evaluating the wing regulations.

Although the use of the wing is totally free throughout practice, there is an eagerness to try out the timing loop, which will work out if a car is less than one second behind the car in front, plus the wing's activation in the 600-metre overtaking zone, before it is used in a race for the first time.

With the FIA set to decide this week exactly how long the overtaking zone in Melbourne will be, and where the timing loop will be situated, Whiting says talks will take place with teams in Australia on the Thursday before the race to decide if a test should happen.

"This has been discussed but no decision has been taken," said Whiting. "We will discuss the possibility of using part of a free practice session in Melbourne with the teams on the day before first practice."

Whiting is confident that the new rear wing rules will be a good for fans, and not result in them getting confused about what is going on - especially as it is now confirmed that television graphics will reveal when a driver is able to use his wing.

"There is no reason to suppose spectators will be confused," he said. "Operation of the wing as described above is simple, there will be marks (lines) on the track to show the area where proximity is being detected and a line across the track at the point where the drivers whose system is armed may deploy it.

"Furthermore, the television broadcasters will be sent a signal each time a system is armed and this will be displayed to the viewers."