Throughout the 2011 season, the wing can be activated within a certain distance – 600 meters – from the breaking zone at the end of a straight, while less than one second behind a competitor. The zones in which the device can be activated will be marked at each race, depending on the characteristics of the circuit.
However, the FIA decided not to restrict the use of the wing in practice and qualifying in order to allow drivers to sort out gear ratios for the Sunday race.
“I don’t quite understand why we have to use the wing all through qualifying,” said Webber, whose teammate Sebastian Vettel issued a pretty serious warning a few days ago, hinting that drivers may go on strike should the wing compromise their safety.
“For qualifying, it is an added distraction and loading which we don’t really need. It is not helping the show – it is another session where you want to do the ultimate lap time but everyone has the same tools to get that lap time, so why overload the driver? There is no real gain for doing it.”
From all the F1 teams, Red Bull has been the most vocal against the use of moveable rear wings in 2011, through Vettel and Webber, while teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes seem to have already worked out a system that make it easier for their drivers to activate/deactivate the device without compromising their focus during races.
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