• Canadian Grand Prix

Mercedes struggles to adapt to F-duct technology

ESPNF1 Staff
June 6, 2010 « Manager not ruling out F1 switch for Raikkonen | »
Mercedes is still battling to get a mastery of the new technology © Sutton Images
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A week ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Ross Brawn has told autosport that Mercedes' F-duct system is still not working as well as it should.

Although the team has been experimenting with the new system since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, it has yet to get to grips with it, and Brawn admitted it is still generating too much drag on the straights, leaving the car well off the pace of the McLarens and Red Bulls.

"I think when you get the F-duct working properly you have … downforce in the corners and then turn drag off on the straight," Brawn said. "At the moment we are not turning off enough drag on the straight.

"McLaren were clever enough to come up with the concept and have a lot more experience of it. You are seeing certain teams abandoned in Turkey and when it works properly it is a very, very powerful tool. We are persevering with it."

Despite this, both Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher are optimistic about Canada. "Our Mercedes-Benz engine will certainly be a big help on the main straight," Rosberg said. "We'll have some further upgrades for the race weekend and the fact that the circuit characteristics are quite different from Istanbul Park makes me go there with high hopes. I think we might just put in a great result."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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