2010 Chinese Grand Prix

Two weeks before the race, the governing body of motor racing, the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA), wrote to all of the teams that any system discovered to make adjustments to the [[Car suspension|suspension]] and [[ride height]] of a [[Formula One car|car]] to achieve an aerodynamic advantage while in ''[[parc fermé]]'' conditions after the end of qualifying and before the start of a race would be outlawed under ''Article 34.5 of the F1 Sporting Regulations'' and ''Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations''. It came after McLaren suggested that Red Bull had used a ride height device on the [[Red Bull RB6|RB6]] at the preceding Malaysian Grand Prix, which the latter outfit denied.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/fia-issues-clarification_sto2282514/story.shtml|title=FIA issues clarification|date=7 April 2010|access-date=27 April 2019|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427192020/https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/fia-issues-clarification_sto2282514/story.shtml|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}} The team's engineering director [[Paddy Lowe]] stated that they had stopped development on its own suspension system after clarification was confirmed, "We were aware over the last few months of a different approach to it [the suspension system]; an approach which historically we hadn't thought to be the typical interpretation [of the regulations], and we were reacting to that."{{Cite web|url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mclaren-suspend-work-on-ride-height-system-19164.html|title=McLaren Suspend Work on Ride-Height System|last=Panzariu|first=Ovidiu|date=13 April 2010|publisher=Auto Evolution|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428143418/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mclaren-suspend-work-on-ride-height-system-19164.html|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2019}}

Two weeks before the race, the governing body of motor racing, the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA), wrote to all of the teams that any system discovered to make adjustments to the [[Car suspension|suspension]] and [[ride height]] of a [[Formula One car|car]] to achieve an aerodynamic advantage while in ''[[parc fermé]]'' conditions after the end of qualifying and before the start of a race would be outlawed under ''Article 34.5 of the F1 Sporting Regulations'' and ''Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations''. It came after McLaren suggested that Red Bull had used a ride height device on the [[Red Bull RB6|RB6]] at the preceding Malaysian Grand Prix, which the latter outfit denied.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/fia-issues-clarification_sto2282514/story.shtml|title=FIA issues clarification|date=7 April 2010|access-date=27 April 2019|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427192020/https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/fia-issues-clarification_sto2282514/story.shtml|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}} The team's engineering director [[Paddy Lowe]] stated that they had stopped development on its own suspension system after clarification was confirmed, "We were aware over the last few months of a different approach to it [the suspension system]; an approach which historically we hadn't thought to be the typical interpretation [of the regulations], and we were reacting to that."{{Cite web|url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mclaren-suspend-work-on-ride-height-system-19164.html|title=McLaren Suspend Work on Ride-Height System|last=Panzariu|first=Ovidiu|date=13 April 2010|publisher=Auto Evolution|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428143418/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mclaren-suspend-work-on-ride-height-system-19164.html|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2019}}

Several teams made modifications to their cars in preparation for the event. Red Bull installed a small vertical exhaust duct to the rear of the RB6 to stop hot air from hitting the [[Exhaust system|exhaust]] onto its rear wheels and better direct airflow towards the [[Diffuser (automotive)|diffuser]]'s side channel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/742.html|title=Red Bull RB6 – additional exhaust duct|date=18 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421052216/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/742.html|archive-date=21 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} Mercedes introduced a modified rear wing controlled by pressure sensors to feed airflow through two small openings and the back of its flap.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/740.html|title=Mercedes GP MGP-W01 – modified rear wing|date=17 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418212957/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/740.html|archive-date=18 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} Ferrari brought a revised aerodynamic package for the [[Ferrari F10|F10]], which included a new frontal and curved splitter, an altered diffuser, and an extra vane to straighten the flow of air beside the splitter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/f1-2010-development-update-china/|title=F1 2010 Development update, China|last=Scarborough|first=Craig|date=20 April 2010|website=Racecar Engineering|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708040001/http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/f1-2010-development-update-china/|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=live|access-date=27 April 2019}} During the Friday practice sessions, Alonso tested a modified rear wing, which directed air onto its flap and onto the diffuser's leading edge via a curved pipe.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/743.html|title=Ferrari F10 – modified rear wing|date=18 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421052221/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/743.html|archive-date=21 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} The [[Williams Racing|Williams]] and Renault teams changed the end plates on both of their car's front wings as the latter constructor opted to mount small vortex generators behind the [[rearview mirror]]s to the side of the [[cockpit]].

Several teams made modifications to their cars in preparation for the event. Red Bull installed a small vertical [[Exhaust system|exhaust]] duct to the rear of the RB6 to stop hot air from hitting the exhaust onto its rear wheels and better direct airflow towards the [[Diffuser (automotive)|diffuser]]'s side channel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/742.html|title=Red Bull RB6 – additional exhaust duct|date=18 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421052216/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/742.html|archive-date=21 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} Mercedes introduced a modified rear wing controlled by pressure sensors to feed airflow through two small openings and the back of its flap.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/740.html|title=Mercedes GP MGP-W01 – modified rear wing|date=17 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418212957/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/740.html|archive-date=18 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} Ferrari brought a revised aerodynamic package for the [[Ferrari F10|F10]], which included a new frontal and curved splitter, an altered diffuser, and an extra vane to straighten the flow of air beside the splitter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/f1-2010-development-update-china/|title=F1 2010 Development update, China|last=Scarborough|first=Craig|date=20 April 2010|website=Racecar Engineering|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708040001/http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/f1-2010-development-update-china/|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=live|access-date=27 April 2019}} During the Friday practice sessions, Alonso tested a modified rear wing, which directed air onto its flap and onto the diffuser's leading edge via a curved pipe.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/743.html|title=Ferrari F10 – modified rear wing|date=18 April 2010|publisher=Formula One|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421052221/http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2010/827/743.html|archive-date=21 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=27 April 2019}} The [[Williams Racing|Williams]] and Renault teams changed the end plates on both of their car's front wings as the latter constructor opted to mount small vortex generators behind the [[rearview mirror]]s to the side of the [[cockpit]].

==Practice==

==Practice==