The FIA has issued an official statement stating that additional tests will take place on front wings from the F1 Spanish GP. The race near Barcelona is round 9 of the 2025 season.
As is standard in Formula 1, plenty of complaints and politics were at play throughout 2024. Things reached boiling point following the Azerbaijan GP in September.
Footage appeared on X as a Ferrari fan detected some tricks from McLaren regarding their rear wing. On the straights, the slot gap would open up giving them extra top speed. It was critical as Oscar Piastri fended off Charles Leclerc for the victory. The term mini-DRS became a thing.
McLaren changed their wing ahead of the Singapore GP as the FIA clamped down on the matter. From there on everything was quiet on that front. New tests will be introduced on rear wings from Australia, nonetheless.
Plenty of noise was made around the front wings as well. McLaren and Mercedes F1 came under the microscope throughout the year.
The front wing and flexing has always been a sensitive topic. If you remember the days when Sebastian Vettel was winning titles, there was no shortage of analysis and complaints about the amount of flexing that was happening on the various Red Bull cars back then.
Now, the FIA has changed its tune on front wings. They want to clamp down on things. Nonetheless, the additional tests do not come into place until round 9. A third of the season will have already taken place.
FIA statement
“Following further analysis carried out by the FIA Single Seater Department after the conclusion of the 2024 season, we are committed to ensure that bodywork flexibility is no longer a point of contention for the 2025 season.
“As part of this effort, we will be increasing the scope of rear wing tests from the start of the 2025 season, and additional front wing tests being introduced from the Spanish GP. This phased approach allows teams to adapt without the need to discard existing components unnecessarily.
“These adjustments are aimed at further refining our ability to monitor and enforce bodywork flexibility regulations, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors to promote fair and exciting racing.”
