• Young Driver Test - Day 1

Williams testing 2012 exhausts

ESPNF1 Staff
November 15, 2011 « Hamilton disagrees with Whitmarsh | Vergne comfortably quickest at Young Driver Test »
Valtteri Bottas leaves the pit lane with the top-exiting exhaust layout © Sutton Images
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Williams has been testing the 2012-specification exhausts during the first morning of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.

Valtteri Bottas is in the FW33 for the first time, and his car has the top-exiting exhaust layout visible as Williams becomes the first team to test exhausts conforming to 2012 regulations. The set of rules will come in to effect next season as the FIA has moved to put an end to the excessive use of exhaust gases to energise the diffuser in order to increase downforce and enhance performance.

While Dani Clos has been running for HRT at the Yas Marina circuit on day one, the team has confirmed that Nathanael Berthon will also take part in the test this week. Berthon, who has been competing in Formula Renault 3.5 this season, says he will use the test to build experience rather than earn a race seat.

"I'm pleased to have the chance to drive in this test for HRT as this will be my first real contact with a Formula 1 car," Berthon said. "Without a doubt, this will be an experience that will reinforce my motivation for the future, and will help me to learn and understand better all the technology of an F1 car and how the tyres react in different situations.

"Formula 1 is what every driver aspires to reach but for me this is another step in my preparation for the future and my long-term objective; I'm just taking this as an experience. My target is to continue working and build my career step by step, and this test is just one more of those small but invaluable steps".

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