Baku may have set a precedent
A situation has been going on for months arm wrestling in F1 between teams that claim that rival teams use front wings that flex in motion at high speed after passing the static technical checks required by the regulation. Red Bull in particular has targeted the wings of McLaren and Mercedes. Christian Horner has repeatedly highlighted the precedent of 2021 when after a few races the parameters of the tests relating to the rear wings were changed. Red Bull – and not only – had to adapt to the new tests, but for now the FIA in 2024 has stressed that it would not change the static tests during the season. The Federation has left the door open for 2025 when the tests could change, but what happened last Sunday in Baku could have changed the cards on the table.
Evidence of McLaren’s rear wing flex by Oscar Piastri in the long straight section that leads to the braking point of Curve-1 may have forced the Federation to change its position on flexible wings in this final of 2024.
In fact, on the eve of the Singapore weekend – which will precede a three-week break – the FIA released the following official note on the subject of flexible wings: “The FIA is closely monitoring the body flexibility of all cars and reserves the right to ask teams to make changes at any time during the season. However, If a team successfully passes all deflection tests and complies with the rules and technical guidelines, it will be considered fully compliant and no further action will be taken.The FIA is currently looking at the data and any other evidence that emerged from the Baku GP and is assessing any mitigation measures to be applied in the future. This is part of the standard technical legality review process and the FIA reserves the authority to introduce regulatory changes during the seasonif necessary”. In practice: the FIA is ready to crack down and if the team or teams in question respect the new ‘limits’ they will not suffer any consequences. This official note could represent a deterrent for the teams that were planning to introduce flexible wings identical to those that already go on the track on other cars after passing the technical checks.
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