Jun.24 (GMM) It is believed Sebastian Vettel on Friday morning was testing for the blown exhaust clampdown, set to take effect in two weeks at Silverstone.

The runaway championship leader, driving the apparently identical Red Bull, was a huge 2.5 seconds slower than his teammate Mark Webber in the first session at Valencia.

"There is a fairly simple explanation," team boss Christian Horner told the German broadcaster Sky.

"We were running different programmes on the cars. We tried several different parts and got some good information.

"We are no longer allowed to test during the season so we only have a chance on Friday to try some things, particularly the first session," added Horner.

He would not specifically confirm that the parts tested by Vettel in P1 were related to the Silverstone spec exhaust and diffuser, admitting it is "impossible" to know what impact the FIA's clampdown will have.

"We know what benefit we get but not what benefits the others get. In reality the same teams will probably be at the front, but until Silverstone it's not possible to predict," added Horner.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version