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FIA’s 2025 Wing Flexing Crackdown: Will McLaren & Red Bull Adapt or Struggle?

Virgilio Machado by Virgilio Machado
February 1, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
FIA’s 2025 Wing Flexing Crackdown: Will McLaren & Red Bull Adapt or Struggle?

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 07: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 is pushed back into the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202412070276 // Usage for editorial use only //

Formula 1’s never-ending battle of aerodynamics is heading into another dramatic chapter. The FIA’s 2025 crackdown on wing flexing is about to shake up the grid, forcing teams like McLaren and Red Bull to rethink their aerodynamic strategies—and potentially altering the competitive landscape of the sport.

Wing flexing, which exploits minute aerodynamic shifts in the front and rear wings to enhance speed and stability, has been a major factor in McLaren’s 2024 Constructors’ Championship victory. Meanwhile, Red Bull has struggled to fully harness this feature, leaving Max Verstappen fighting against balance issues in key races.

But with the FIA’s new, stricter regulations set to hit in two phases—rear wing tests debuting at the Australian Grand Prix and front wing scrutiny arriving in Spain—how will the top teams adapt?


🔍 What Is Wing Flexing, and Why Does the FIA Want It Gone?

Wing flexing refers to the strategic bending of a car’s wings under aerodynamic load—reducing drag on straights for blistering top speeds while boosting downforce in corners for superior grip. In short, it’s a game-changer.

💡 Key Benefits of Wing Flexing:
✅ More speed on straights by minimizing drag.
✅ More downforce in corners for better grip.
✅ Better balance across varying track conditions.

However, the FIA is not a fan of excessive wing movement. While F1’s rulebook technically bans “movable aerodynamic devices”, teams have found loopholes by developing wings that subtly flex under load—passing static FIA tests but behaving differently at high speeds.

The governing body now wants to close this gap, arguing that it gives certain teams an unfair advantage and complicates enforcement of the sport’s technical regulations.


🏆 How McLaren Capitalized on Wing Flexing in 2024

McLaren’s 2024 Constructors’ Championship victory wasn’t just about Lando Norris’ incredible consistency—it was also a technical masterclass in maximizing wing flexing.

🔸 Their Formula:
✔️ Efficient wing flexing to reduce drag on the straights.
✔️ Increased downforce at corner entry for superior handling.
✔️ Enhanced stability across various circuits, from high-speed tracks to tight street circuits.

By perfecting the balance, McLaren outperformed Red Bull in race pace at crucial moments, ultimately edging Ferrari by 14 points for the title. However, the 2025 FIA crackdown could undo much of their aerodynamic advantage, forcing the Woking-based squad to reinvent its approach.


🚨 Why Red Bull Struggled—and Why Verstappen Was Furious

Red Bull’s 2024 season wasn’t the usual dominant walk in the park. While Verstappen secured another Drivers’ Championship, the team suffered on tracks that exposed their straight-line speed deficit.

At Monza and Las Vegas, Red Bull failed to optimize wing flexibility, resulting in a massive 7 KPH speed deficit on the straights. After those weekends, Verstappen wasn’t shy about voicing his frustration.

🗣️ Max Verstappen, Post-Vegas:
“It feels like we throw away two race weekends like this… We definitely lose too much on the straights. We would have liked to have a lower wing, a lower-downforce wing, or at least a different shape, a more efficient shape.”

🔻 Key Red Bull Issues:
⚠️ Balance problems worsened as the season progressed.
⚠️ The RB20’s rear wing design didn’t flex as efficiently as McLaren’s.
⚠️ Sergio Perez struggled massively, failing to keep pace with Verstappen.

Now, with FIA’s new testing procedures, Red Bull has one shot at redemption—but they’ll need to solve their aerodynamic inefficiencies fast if they want to stop McLaren from repeating their title-winning feat.


🔮 The 2025 Wing Flexing Ban: How Will Teams Respond?

🚧 The New Rules:
🚀 Phase 1: Rear wing testing at the Australian Grand Prix.
🚀 Phase 2: Front wing testing at the Spanish Grand Prix.
🚀 Stricter load tests to prevent excessive flexibility.

👀 What This Means for F1 Teams:

1️⃣ 🔵 McLaren:
McLaren must innovate fast. Their title-winning strategy relied heavily on wing flexing, meaning they’ll have to divert resources to other aerodynamic solutions.

2️⃣ 🔴 Red Bull:
If Red Bull can master a new, FIA-compliant rear wing, they could reclaim lost ground and put Verstappen back in full control of the championship. Expect Newey and Co. to work aggressively on new aero concepts.

3️⃣ 🟡 Ferrari:
Ferrari’s biggest struggle in 2024 was mid-race tire management. More rigid wings could help their balance, but they need to nail aerodynamic efficiency without sacrificing cornering performance.

4️⃣ ⚫ Mercedes:
Mercedes is still in transition following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. If the wing flex ban slows the front-runners, could this give George Russell and Kimi Antonelli a chance to rise?


🏁 The Final Verdict: Will FIA’s Ban Shake Up the Title Race?

The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be a massive reset for aerodynamics. With strict new FIA testing measures in place, teams can’t rely on wing flexing tricks anymore—they must innovate new ways to gain speed and stability.

🔮 Predictions:
🔥 Red Bull has the most to gain if they fix their straight-line speed.
🔥 McLaren’s 2024 advantage could disappear overnight.
🔥 Ferrari and Mercedes could sneak into title contention if they adjust quickly.

With preseason testing just weeks away, the first hints of who’s adapting best will become clear as teams debut their 2025 cars.

💬 What do you think? Will McLaren suffer without its flexi-wing edge? Can Red Bull finally fix its balance issues? Let’s hear your predictions! 👇🏎️💨

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