The FIA has confirmed even bigger tests of F1 rear wings will come into play at the Chinese GP this weekend.
During practice in Australia, teams had to provide housings to fit FIA cameras which seeked to monitor the rear wings when the cars took to the track at Albert Park.
The rear wing debate has been a hot topic since a user on X revealed the trick McLaren had been using with theirs as Oscar Piastri held off Charles Leclerc to win the Azerbaijan GP last September, also known now as the mini-DRS saga. Red Bull have been particularly vocal about this topic.
The FIA statement confirmed that all ten teams had legal rear wings in Australia. Now it remains to be seen what will happen in Shanghai as they all face tougher tests.
It’s clear something from the free practice sessions in Australia has alerted the FIA. Flexing wings continue to be a hot topic, both at the front and rear.
FIA statement on rear wing tests
“As has been previously communicated, between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season, the FIA exercised the authority it is granted under Article 3.15.1 of the Technical Regulations to introduce either new or more challenging load-deflection tests for the front wing (from Race 9, Spanish Grand Prix), the upper rear wing, and the beam rear wing.
“In addition, the FIA requested to the teams to use cameras in Free Practice Sessions to monitor the on-track deformations exhibited by the cars during the Australian Grand Prix.
“Having analysed footage from the rear wing deformations combined to the static deflections measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA has concluded that sufficient grounds exist for a tougher test to be introduced from the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix on the upper rear wing.
“More specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, states that if 75Kg of vertical load is applied on either extremity of the rear wing mainplane, the distance between the mainplane and the flap (also known as “slot gap”) must not vary by more than 2mm.
“From the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai, this limit will be reduced to 0.5mm. Due to the short notice for Shanghai only a tolerance of 0.25mm will be added to this new limit.
“The Teams were informed of this revised test early Monday 17th of March.
“The FIA wishes to further confirm that during the Melbourne event all cars tested against the requirements of Article 3.15.17 and found to comply, therefore all cars raced in Melbourne were deemed to be legal.”
