Sauber removed the F-duct from its C29 for Monaco for safety reasons, the Swiss team's boss has revealed. Ferrari also decided not to run the downforce-spoiling concept in the Principality, but the Italian team argued that the device simply was not effective on the twisty streets. But Peter Sauber said his team's decision was for a different reason.
"I wanted my drivers to have both their hands on the steering wheel through the tunnel," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"Ever since Karl Wendlinger had his accident there in 1994, I have respect for this place," added Sauber.
Like Ferrari, Sauber's system involves blocking an air inlet with the drivers' hand.
The McLaren system is activated by the knee, but Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the time advantage was just a few hundredths per lap in Monaco.
Ferrari's system will be back on the F10 car in Turkey in two weeks.
"Our system did not work as desired in Barcelona," confirmed team boss Stefano Domenicali. "We are still fine-tuning it."
The red cars were very fast in a straight line in Spain, but the system was also shedding downforce in the corners "when the system was not being activated", the Italian admitted.
Red Bull will also begin experimenting with the concept in Turkey.
"We are doing the research and for sure at the next couple of races we will have a look at it, but we will only introduce it when it earns a place on the car," Christian Horner told F1's official website.
There it is - gigantic, with an estimated 18 million inhabitants, pre-programmed traffic chaos, with hordes of tourists from all imaginable countries and then, on top of that, another 150.000 fans for a weekend of Formula 1. We'll see what is going to happen!
Sebastian Vettel "Flying Lap" Istanbul 2009
F 1 Turkish Grand Prix Preview
First Grand Prix in Turkey
These and similar ideas came into our minds during the long and uncomfortable journey across the plateau of Turkey. But who can resist an invitation to a Formula 1 Race being presented by a big car importer, especially when it is the first time the race has been held in Turkey? We were not able to do so.
Arriving in Istanbul, we quickly arranged some breakfast while noticing that there was a lot of traffic but it was very well organized. This calmed us down a little. We also saw lots of things which had been well prepared by the local authority. There were sculptures, posters and hoardings all along the main roads and in public places. From the internet we knew that a special shuttle service was available to Istanbul Park, so we quickly called for a taxi so we would reach the qualifying rounds well in time. At the meeting point for the shuttle service to Istanbul Park, we asked the driver. He did not really know anything but we kept going. We also asked some policemen, who did not know either, whether we were in the right place.
After a couple of minutes thinking, the taxi driver went to another meeting point for buses. We jumped out of the taxi and started asking again. Did anybody in Istanbul know anything about Formula 1? Another taxi driver stopped and offered his services. Seeing we were in a hurry, he immediately offered to take us. So we got to the race track by taxi for about 20 YTL, which means 13 ? for a journey of 30 miles.
Just about on time, the ring shuttle quickly got us to stand 5. There were lots of people there. We were early enough to see the mistake by my favourite driver, the red car of Mr. Schumacher, going too fast into the bend in front of our stand, spinning twice and losing all chance of a good position on the starting grid. I didn?t enjoy that, but others did.
After the qualifying rounds, there was enough time to find out where the shuttle buses would leave from, and we decided to go back by one of these buses as a kind of practice for Sunday. It was so easy. The starting point for the buses was directly at stand 5 and they went to the suburb of Mecidiyeköy, where we had been looking for them early that morning. We even learned that bus stops are a little bigger in Istanbul.
Everything was very well organized and we got there without any problem. Our Formula 1 ticket was used as a bus ticket and there were nearly 30 miles of side roads open just for the shuttle busses.
We prepared everything well for the big event the following day ? a little bit of packed food and some drinks and we quickly arranged a taxi to the meeting point at Istanbul Park. A sea of colourful flags awaited us, most of them red, followed by blue and yellow, black, and blue and white. We were really surprised to see the huge number of well equipped and informed Turkish fans. Maybe even over here it will become a well known and loved sport.
Arriving at our stand we watched a race for the VW Ladies Cup, followed by the races of the GP 2 series at 11.00 o?clock. A little later, and to fill the waiting time before the main race, there was another race for the Seat Leon Cup.
Then it began. All the drivers introduced themselves while sitting in old traditional sports cars going round the track. To the sound of the Turkish National Anthem a formation of fighter planes from the Turkish military passed twice overhead, then the sound we all came for was to be heard: all the cars moved onto the starting grid. Another period of waiting followed, as it always does, filled by some VIP people from the media. This time Mr. Ear-biting Mike Tyson followed by his crowd was the big star. We found his yacht next day anchored in the Golden Horn.
But, as usual, lots of important and well?known visitors from all over the world attended this so important event for Turkey, the most important being the Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan Bey.
