• Chinese Grand Prix

Ferrari, Williams, Mercedes to use F-duct in China

Several teams have copied McLaren's F-duct idea © Sutton Images

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Sauber, Ferrari, Williams and Mercedes are all tipped to be running a McLaren-style 'F-duct' system during Friday practice in Shanghai.

The circuit's layout features a very long straight, and Ferrari's Felipe Massa said he thinks the rear wing-stalling system will be a significant benefit this weekend. Sauber has been testing a system in practice sessions since Australia but has not raced it, until now.

"Our plan is to have it on the car from Friday to Sunday," Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa confirmed.

Williams hinted on Thursday that a "rear wing upgrade" is one of the developments on the FW32 car in China. Auto Motor und Sport said the device will be up and running on Friday but driver Nico Hulkenberg would not confirm that it will still be on the car on Saturday and Sunday.

"The system works very much like it does on the McLaren," said the young German. "We will see how it goes tomorrow [Friday] and then see."

It is reported that Ferrari will also have an F-duct working in Friday practice, as will Mercedes, amid rumours it adds up to 6mph to a car's top speed on the Shanghai straight.

"In the wind tunnel and in the simulation, our system works," said Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn. "If Friday's practice confirms these results, then we will use it in the races."

However, Alonso revealed it was not Ferrari's main concern this weekend.

"I know that we keep developing the car, but it's not maybe the first priority for us, that system," he said. "We keep working on our philosophies. There is an important step here to improve the car, and I know that there is more coming in the next races. I'm not specifically worried only about that system."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.