Red Bull Floor Battle to be Resolved before Canadian GP

The FIA says that it is looking into the slot on the floor of the Red Bull RB8Red Bull RB8Austria, 2012 > 201210 photos
in front of the rear wheel, and it will have a ruling before the Canadian Grand Prix. FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
, MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
9852 photos
33 videos
and McLarenMcLarenUnited Kingdom, 1963 > present92 models
1883 photos
12 videos
all protested the slot that would increase rear downforce. 

"Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
1049 photos
3 videos
have not been asked to change anything yet. However, there is a difference of opinion over interpretation of a regulation, which we intend to clarify our position on during the next days," said the FIA. 

The slot or hole in question is formed just in front of the rear wheels on the RB8. There are two perpendicular slots cut into the car with the edge of the rear section raised to funnel air in. 

The teams say that the slots are banned in their current locations according to the rules. There are not supposed to be holes or slots in the floor so far behind the cockpit according to the rules. In theory the slots would move high speed air into the area between the rear tire and diffuser to clean up the airflow around the rear tire and increase downforce through the rear diffuser. 

The slots have been on the Red Bull since the Bahrain Grand Prix, and Red Bull claims that they are legal. 

The slots are difficult to see because they are so small, but they are visible and circled in all of the images in the gallery. 

Formula 1 really needs to get its rules in order. When the big controversy is over whether a team can have a slot in the floor, there is a problem with the support. Either simply the rules to allow experimentation or tighten them to the point there are no loopholes. Too many of the controversies this season have been about small aerodynamic issues like the Mercedes DRS blown wing that took multiple races to resolve. 

Source: Autosport (1,2)