• German Grand Prix
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Lotus won't race new device

ESPN Staff
July 20, 2012 « Button maintains wet tyre concerns | Massa unclear on dry pace »
Lotus will return Kimi Raikkonen's car to its normal specification for the race © Sutton Images
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Lotus will not race its new aerodynamic device at the German Grand Prix despite a positive day of testing on Friday.

The new system is thought to be similar to Mercedes' double DRS and makes use of the same understanding of the rules to channel air through ducts for aerodynamic effect. The device, which was only run on Kimi Raikkonen's car, drew plenty of attention at Hockenheim with very obvious air inlets on either side of the E20's airbox as well as some visible ducts at the rear of the car.

The team remained coy about the exact purpose of the device but trackside operations director Alan Permane confirmed it would not be in use again until the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend.

"Both cars ran with aero updates, which were rather more visible on one car than the other," he said. "We've seen encouraging signs from our latest prototype concept and although we won't race it here, it's likely to make another appearance during practice in Budapest."

Raikkonen added: "We didn't learn a lot today with the weather conditions as they were; it was like Silverstone when we also didn't have very good conditions. We tried a few different things which I think some people noticed today. It would have been nice to have some more dry track time but you can't do anything about that."

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