Renault still toying with Monza F-Duct plans

Like several other teams Renault is yet to decide whether to run with or without an F-Duct at Monza this weekend, so it seems likely that the team will try both configurations on Friday.

Some sources suggest that the logical path is to have a normal Monza wing and then a slightly higher downforce version equipped for the F-Duct, and Ferrari is believed to be trying both.

Robert Kubica admitted that the team hasn’t made a final call as yet, and it’s not easy to assess form going into the race.

“It’s hard to say and I think this will be a very interesting weekend to judge the performance of the cars,” said Kubica in a Renault preview. “Spa was a good example of how powerful the F-duct can be and we were immediately more competitive and closer to the front when we fitted it.

“The effect will be less powerful in Monza because the cars run with less drag, but there will be still be an advantage, so we need to see which teams use it and if we are able to as well. This circuit can sometimes throw up some surprises, so I prefer to stay cautious when it comes to predictions. But if the car feels as good as it did in Spa, then there’s no reason why we won’t be competitive in Monza.”

Technical director James Allison added: “Monza has such long straights and so few corners that it requires much smaller wings than any other track. To add further complication, the F-duct is a potential alternative option for Monza. Like several other teams, we too are evaluating whether we can make the device work in the particular, low-downforce environment of Monza.”

Meanwhile Kubica says that driving a low downforce car at Monza is always a special challenge: “It’s like being at the wheel of a completely different car. At the start of the weekend, you think that the rear end is very unstable, but in fact that’s how it stays all the time, and you never quite find the grip and stability you’re used to at other circuits.

“That makes it a bigger challenge for the drivers, and I also enjoy the fact that there’s a lot of heavy braking, where you approach the braking points at very high speed and need to be extremely precise. It’s not easy to pick them up or to hit the apex of the corners.”