It seems the aforementioned device is clearly getting in the way of overtaking, as it makes it harder for the trailing car to pass the one in front of it. The wheel fairing have been introduced in Formula One last year, by Ferrari, in an effort to improve airflow around the car and reduce drag.
However, as confirmed by Williams F1's technical boss Sam Michael, the covers seem to have “quite an adverse effect on the following car”. Michael insisted the discovery was made following a study conducted in July this year and, as a result, triggered the ban of the aforementioned device for 2010.
Prior to the 2009 Formula One Championship, the ruling body supervised the formation of an Overtaking Working Group (WOG), aimed at improving overtaking in the sport. The lack of such maneuvers in the past few years has made the FIA to try everything in order to make the sport more attractive for the fans.
However, despite the ban of the wheel fairing for 2010, Michael insisted that several other things will have to be looked into in order to boost overtaking for 2010.
“It is the sort of thing where you need to find three or four little things like that and that will add up to a difference, so I think it is going in the right direction but it just needs more,” added the Williams technical chief.
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