The world of Formula 1 motorsport is bracing for a significant shakeup as new flexi-wing regulations are set to be enforced at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The decision has stirred diverging viewpoints from the industry’s bigwigs, as they anticipate how these changes will redefine the sport.
The new regulations will see the maximum flex of front wings reduced from 15mm to 10mm after Round 9 of the upcoming season. Concurrently, new restrictions for rear wings are expected to take immediate effect. This decision follows accusations leveled against McLaren and Mercedes in 2024 for allegedly taking advantage of the flexi-wing restrictions. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a technical directive at the Belgian Grand Prix in response, although no wrongdoing was discovered, much to the chagrin of Red Bull and Ferrari.
Despite previous declarations of not modifying its rules, the FIA has recently introduced stricter rear wing flex tests, starting from the Australian Grand Prix and leading up to even more severe examinations for the front wing in Spain.
Aston Martin’s Team Principal, Andy Cowell, isn’t perturbed by these changes. He downplayed the new directive, stating that it doesn’t constitute a “big fuss.” Cowell feels that teams have always adapted to evolving regulations and this situation will be no different. He remarked, “It’s another flexible element regulation interpretation change,” indicating his team’s readiness to adjust.
However, not all share Cowell’s laid-back approach. Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner and McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown have expressed their concerns, particularly about the timing of the enforcement of these new rules. Horner questioned the decision to enforce the rules at the ninth race rather than during the off-season, which could lead to teams exploiting the current regulations till then. He also noted the difficulty in predicting which teams will be most affected by these changes.
Concurring with Horner, Brown doesn’t foresee a significant impact on McLaren as a result of the regulation change. He believes it’s too early to tell who will be the winners or losers, as he doesn’t expect a substantial shift in the pecking order.
With these impending changes, only time will tell how teams will adapt and what the consequent effects will be. As the F1 bosses continue to deliberate on the implications of the 2025 flexi-wing clampdown, the motorsport world watches with bated breath, waiting to see how this pivotal decision will shape the future of the sport.