Autosport Plus

MPH: Mark Hughes on...

Despite a willingness to sort out F1's overtaking problem with the ‘active rear wing' concept, it may fall on deaf ears. There's always the track surface/tyre compound conundrum to focus on, though...

Active rear wings, set for introduction in 2011, will radically change the racing. This will be of a very different order to the last Overtaking Working Group measures that made only a small initial difference that was then wiped away with car development. A rear wing with an opening slot gap that dumps all the downforce and drag at the press of a button will make overtaking far easier.

When the brakes are applied, the slot gap closes again and reverts back to its standard high-downforce setting. Only the driver behind gets to use it, with dashboard electronics informing him when the device is armed. It leaves the guy in front defenceless, thereby almost guaranteeing lots of passing. But be careful what we wish for. It's already being compared to a losing football team getting a penalty - with the goalie not allowed to save it.