• Young Driver Test

Mercedes trials 2012 exhaust layout

Mercedes has been running the 2011-specification exhausts on the first two days © Sutton Images

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Mercedes is testing an upper-exiting exhaust layout on day three of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.

Following on from Williams - which ran the exhausts on day one - Mercedes has switched layouts to test a version that will conform with the 2012 regulations. Designed to prevent teams from using exhaust gases to blow the diffuser, the regulations state that the exhaust exits must be higher up the car's bodywork, and the Mercedes version appears to be designed to blow the rear wing.

Unlike Williams on Tuesday, the Mercedes exhausts appear to be further along in the design process with specific rear bodywork being tested on Thursday. A number of sensors also appear behind the exhaust exits in order to monitor the effect of the layout on the rear of the car.

Sam Bird is driving the W02 for a third and final day, but will see an effect on overall lap times without the exhaust blown diffuser generating downforce.

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