As the International Automobile Federation (FIA) tightens its grip on flexi-wing regulations, a rift appears to emerge between Formula 1 titans McLaren and Red Bull. McLaren’s chief, Zak Brown, holds a rather indifferent stance, asserting that the stricter rules will not drastically alter the F1 2025 hierarchy. In contrast, Red Bull’s team lead Christian Horner anticipates intriguing dynamics and labels the timing of the new directives as somewhat eccentric.
The FIA’s decision to introduce more rigid rear wing flex tests from this season’s kick-off in Australia, followed by stricter front wing inspections starting from Spain’s ninth race, has triggered a buzz across the paddock. These amendments to TD018, announced in January, were prompted by last season’s controversy surrounding flexi-wings.
Red Bull and Ferrari had previously raised eyebrows at McLaren and Mercedes’ front wings, but their skepticism was quashed when the FIA, who perform front wing evaluations at every race, asserted that all front wings conformed to the 2024 regulations.
The spotlight was further trained on McLaren’s rear wing during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when cameras showed Oscar Piastri’s car being pursued by Charles Leclerc. The footage revealed the MCL38’s rear wing distorting at high velocities, with the degree of flex being so significant it was likened to a mini-DRS for its drag-reducing capabilities.
Despite passing the FIA’s static load tests, McLaren chose to modify its rear wing and its entire roster in response. A representative relayed to PlanetF1.com that minor adjustments had been made to all their rear wings since the Baku incident to prevent further issues.
The FIA, stepping up in its battle against flexi-wings, is instituting more stringent rear wing tests in Australia, while Spain will witness tougher front wing evaluations. This has led to some bafflement in the paddock, with speculations that the F1 2025 could turn into a split championship: one before and one after the TD.
Brown, however, dismisses such conjectures, believing the changes won’t shake up Formula 1’s established order. Speaking to the media in Bahrain, he stated, “I don’t think it’s a significant change for us. I think it’s too hard to tell who wins or loses over it, because I don’t think it’s going to be a material change for anybody.”
His Red Bull adversary Horner, however, remains sceptical about the absence of repercussions. He questioned the timing of the ninth race for the updated TD and remarked, “It might have been better to have been addressed during the off-season.”
The FIA justified its decision to transition from a 15mm to a 10mm permitted flex by stating that the phased approach would allow teams to adapt without discarding existing components. The governing body of motorsports emphasized that the modifications were aimed at enhancing their ability to monitor and enforce bodywork flexibility regulations, thereby promoting fair and exciting racing for all competitors.