Flexible wings have returned to the centre of debate in Formula 1 following the incidents that emerged at Baku Grand Prix, where McLaren has come under scrutiny for its use of a particular configuration that has attracted the attention of rival teams and fans. The issue concerns the conformity of some aerodynamic solutions adopted by various teams, especially regarding the bending of the wings, a technique that allows for improved aerodynamics at high speeds. Following the controversy, the FIA has released an official statement announcing that it is considering further action to clarify the regulations on flexible wings. This decision could also have a significant impact on the ambitions of the Ferrari, which had planned to introduce a new front wing specifically for the Singapore Grand Prix.
The FIA wants to see clearly on flexible wings
After the Baku Grand Prix, The FIA has stated that it wants to carefully examine the behaviour of flexible wings, particularly those of McLaren, whose design has attracted attention for possible abnormal flex during the long straight leading into Turn 1. Television footage showed the rear wing of Oscar Piastri's McLaren behaving like a “mini-DRS”, increasing the slot gap at high speeds, a solution that has raised doubts among rival teams.
The FIA has confirmed that all McLaren components in Baku have passed the static tests required by the regulations, but has also stressed that it is monitoring the situation to decide whether further regulatory action is necessary. In the official statement released, the Federation stated:
“The FIA is closely monitoring the body flexibility of all cars and reserves the right to ask teams to make changes at any point during the season. However, if a team successfully passes all deflection tests and complies with the rules and technical directives, it will be considered fully compliant and no further action will be taken.”
This statement suggests that, while the FIA has not found any immediate breaches of the rules, it is prepared to intervene if further evidence emerges. This is a wake-up call for all teams that are leveraging similar solutions or were planning to introduce them.
The McLaren case and the FIA flexible wing test in Baku
The behavior of McLaren's rear wing in Baku has sparked a wave of discussion among fans and rival teams. As reported by motorsport. com, the flexing of the rear wing of Piastri's MCL38 fueled speculation that the team was using a design that modified the aerodynamic behaviour during the race, making the most of grey areas in the regulations.
An executive from a rival team explained: “Aeroelasticity has been a factor in play for many years now, and even if a wing passes the FIA tests, the regulation remains very clear: the component cannot be designed to flex. We rely on the FIA to decide what the acceptable limits are.” (motorsport. com).
Although McLaren's wing was found to be compliant with FIA static tests, the dynamic behaviour of the wing during the race raised the question of whether designing components that flex under certain conditions violates the spirit of the regulations. This led many teams to ask for clarification on what is considered acceptable in terms of wing flexibility.
The repercussions for Ferrari
The FIA’s decision to monitor wing flexibility more closely could also have a direct impact on Ferrari, which had planned to introduce a new front wing for the Singapore Grand Prix. The Maranello team had accelerated development of this component to make the most of the Marina Bay street circuit, which features tight corners and a high demand for downforce.
However, with the FIA ready to intervene in the event of suspicious aerodynamic behaviour, Ferrari could find itself having to revise its plans or face further technical scrutiny on the new component. The SF-24's front wing was also designed with the aim of improving controlled flexibility, a crucial aspect for optimising aerodynamic flow, but this solution could now come under scrutiny.
The FIA note, in fact, clarifies that “The Federation reserves the authority to introduce regulatory changes during the season, if necessary,” an eventuality that could hamper Ferrari's ambitions at a key moment of the season.
A season finale under the FIA's magnifying glass
With the constructors' championship still open and the fights between Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull still intense, every technical development can make a difference. The issue of flexible wings has brought to light the regulatory complexities that characterize Formula 1, where every detail can be decisive in obtaining a competitive advantage.
The FIA has made it clear that it will not tolerate solutions that exploit the flexibility of the wings to an extreme extent, even if the components pass static tests. This position could lead to a significant change in the technical landscape of the final races of the season, with Ferrari and McLaren under scrutiny for their advanced aerodynamic solutions.
The battle for the constructors' title and the performance of the single-seaters will therefore also pass through the FIA checks, which does not exclude introducing new control parameters to guarantee the full regularity of the cars. How will the situation evolve? Only the next race weekends will be able to give a definitive answer.
