I am still, after about 40 years of following F1 engine design, still somewhat surprised that F1 engine manufacturers have all followed the pneumatic spring path for valve closure. In conjunction with electronic engine management systems, desmo valve gear can clearly offer considerable gains over conventional camshafts – for example, the opening acceleration can be made as high as possible with a desmo system, without fear of losing control of the valve or over-opening. The opening profile can be (almost) a square of fully open during the opening period, as opposed to a curve dictated by limitations on the valve gear and (air) springs. A properly designed desmo system need not be very heavy, which imposes almost no penalty on engine weight, and the return is in reliability and higher power output.

Some desmo designs have been unnecessarily complex, but there are some designs deserving of a relook.