McLaren-style horns on the F1.07In a newspaper article, Europe's widely read Bild-Zeitung has accused BMW Sauber of 'copying' an aerodynamic innovation that first appeared on McLaren Mercedes' F1 car.
The reality of course is that all teams look at what innovations
its rivals introduce, test them in the wind tunnel, and if a gain can be found, update the aero package.
Publishing photos taken at the Bahrain test of the two 2007-specification cars, Bild-Zeitung referred to bullhorn-like appendages behind the driver on either side of each cars' engine cover. The 'horns' originally appeared on the
McLaren two years ago.
Bild pointed out the fact that in the five days of Bahrain testing so far, no driver has beaten a lap time posted by Heidfeld in the impressive but unreliable F1.07.
BMW Sauber's Technical Director Willy Rampf is quoted as saying that it is 'normal' in Formula One for innovations to become widely used.
Source GMM
