Cosworth predicts 'extreme' diffusers

Formula 1's engine makers will be forced to pursue 'extreme' forms of blown diffuser concepts if the FIA does not clamp down on the use of off-throttle systems next month.

That is the view of Cosworth, which believes that the area of car development could get out of control - as it awaits a meeting of the Technical Working Group to discuss the situation.

The FIA is determined to ban the use of off-throttle blown diffusers, and acted in the wake of a clarification request from Williams about future development options.

Cosworth's general manager Mark Gallagher told AUTOSPORT that his company was ready to push ahead with its own system - but that such costs would have to be met by its partner teams.

"It really does enter the realms of escalated development in an area which nobody foresaw not very long ago, and you can see some quite extreme forms of it on the horizon," said Gallagher.

"This is a benefit which is significant and if you said to your aerodynamicist 'I've got something that is going to give you half a second,' they are going to jump on that.

"This is not a small matter, it's not hundredths of seconds, there is a good chunk of time to be had, and therefore it has the potential to be exploited. Of course, looking forward to potential new engines, if you designed one with this kind of strategy in mind, I think you could? take it on to another level again.

"So the question is whether the FIA determines this is a cul de sac and [says] we are not to go down it any further. Because if the road is left open, not just for the current engines, but for potentially new engines in the future, it's an entire new area of development which you can go on to."

"We'll get the clarification. Certainly we have got it, we can implement it, but we just need the customers to be told that it's legal and [decide that ] they want to proceed with it."

To find out about how Cosworth aims to become a force in Formula 1 once more, read Jonathan Noble's exclusive interview with general manager Mark Gallagher here.