The Formula 1 world is once more set aflame with controversy, as fresh allegations hint at potential foul play by Ferrari and McLaren surrounding the contentious ‘mini-DRS’ concept. These suspicions, which surfaced during pre-season trials in Bahrain, point to the flexibility of rear wings—an aspect that has previously attracted the attention of regulators.
As the teams gear up for the commencement of the 2025 season, the paddock is rife with tension. The issues at hand revolve around adherence to rules and the possibility of gaining an unfair edge through performance enhancements.
In the recent conversations, Fred Vasseur, the team principal of Ferrari, along with Christian Horner, his Red Bull counterpart, expressed satisfaction over the FIA’s clear directives regarding flexible front wings. However, the focus has now shifted to the designs of the rear wings, thanks to new on-board footage from Bahrain. This shift has sparked speculation about teams potentially overstepping aerodynamic regulations.
An anonymous team principal relayed concerns to The Race about what was observed during the testing phase. “From the videos we’ve seen, a few of the rear wings seem unusually flexible,” they noted. “We are closely monitoring the situation.”
The ‘mini-DRS’ controversy first arose in the previous season when McLaren was suspected of employing a mechanism that expanded the rear wing’s slot gap during high-speed runs. This resulted in reduced drag and enhanced straight-line performance. Recent reports suggest that Ferrari and McLaren might have resurrected this strategy, possibly by enabling the entire rear-wing structure to tilt backward under aerodynamic pressure.
Pierre Wache, Red Bull’s Technical Director, voiced his belief that some teams are pushing the boundaries of regulations yet again. “It’s still happening,” he declared. “I believe Ferrari and McLaren are persisting with the mini-DRS tactics.”
During pre-season testing, there is no strict enforcement of FIA compliance checks, allowing teams to trial new designs without immediate repercussions. However, once the season kicks off officially, teams in breach of rules could face protests or be compelled to make modifications.
Wache anticipates that the legality of F1 mini-DRS rear-wing adjustments will become a hot topic once the teams gather in Australia for the inaugural Grand Prix. “It will become an issue, it’s quite visible,” he predicted.
The FIA has already taken steps to curb excessive rear-wing flexing, particularly in the wake of McLaren’s controversial rear-wing design at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The governing body amended technical regulations, narrowing the permissible slot gap width from 10-15mm to 9.4-13mm, while retaining the 85mm limit when DRS is engaged. Moreover, a new rule stipulates that DRS bodywork can only be in a fully open or closed state, ruling out the potential for gradual flexing.
With the season’s first race on the horizon, Ferrari, McLaren, and any other teams suspected of exploiting rear-wing flexibility will find themselves under the regulators’ microscope. It remains to be seen if formal complaints will be lodged, but it’s clear that the ‘mini-DRS’ controversy is far from over.
