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Why rule changes could make Red Bull more competitive

It was hoped that the rules package aimed at outlawing off-throttle diffusers would close the field up, but as Mark Hughes explains from Valencia, it's possible that Red Bull could have an even bigger advantage come race day

Sebastian Vettel walked into the Valencia paddock a very relaxed man on Thursday. Rucsack on his back, ambling along with just his personal trainer, happy and chatty. He didn't look like a man believing he was on the verge of having his competitive advantage taken from him.

This is a particularly intriguing moment of the season: will the new requirement of having to use the same engine maps to qualify and race cause a change in the competitive order? The FIA has made the change in concert with further regulation changes at Silverstone as a belt and braces attempt to outlaw off-throttle blowing of the diffusers. The intrigue is in just what effect this will have specifically on the Red Bull RB7.

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